As Members are aware, Deputy Clinton's duties as a member of the European Parliament prevent him from continuing as a Member of this Joint Committee. Therefore, he will, in due course, be discharged by the Committee of Selection who will appoint another member in his place. Deputy Clinton wishes to relinquish the position of chairman so that a new chairman can be elected to take over at the beginning of this session. The first item on the agenda is the election of a chairman and I will take nominations for the position.
Election of Chairman
The tradition has been that a Member of the Opposition has held this office. I propose Senator Alexis FitzGerald. I should like also to pay tribute to the impartiality of the outgoing chairman.
Deputy Leonard
I second that proposal.
In the absence of any other nominations, I have pleasure in declaring Senator FitzGerald elected as chairman of the Committee. I wish him well, and I endorse the words of Deputy Smith in paying tribute to the impartiality of the outgoing chairman. I wish him well in his new role as a Member of the European Parliament. I now ask Senator FitzGerald to take the chair.
took the Chair.
I should like to express my gratitude to the Members for unanimously approving my taking the chair. I come into a succession of ability. That succession is of a high standard as both my predecessors are remarkably able men. In joining in the tribute to Deputy Clinton's impartiality in this chair, as a member of the first Committee I should like to say that his predecessor also was impartial in his conduct of the business of the Committee. I should like to say how much I appreciated Deputy Smith's reference to the tradition of the Committee in regard to this. Maintenance of the traditions of the House generally is a very valuable national asset. In my conduct of the chair, if not aiming at achieving marvels beyond my scope, I will try to maintain the standards of impartiality my predecessors ministered. I am sure I speak for all members in expressing the wish to have the co-operation of the vice-chairman, Deputy Noonan, and the chairpersons of the very active sub-committees—I propose to resign as chairman of the Sub-Committee on Statutory Instruments and Legal Affairs. I hope that the co-operation from Senator Mulcahy, Senator Robinson and Deputy Smith will continue in the future as much as it has been manifest in the past. I should like to thank the secretariat for their work in the past and hope that the work of Mr. Michael Kilroy, Mr. Tom Dwan, Mr. Donal O'Herlihy and Miss Jane Matthews will be as good in the future as it has been in the past.