I beg the indulgence of the Minister and the members present while I say a couple of words. Sitting to the left of me is Ms Marie Fennell, who has been the clerk to the committee for the past six years. This is Marie's last meeting with us. She is moving on to a different committee where her expertise as Gaeilge will be acknowledged. I wish to thank Marie. When I came to this committee three years ago I was a very green chairperson. She has always been there whenever I needed any help or assistance. She came across to me most weeks to discuss the meeting and set out exactly what would happen. I will always remember the first time I had to deal with a Bill going through the committee. We gave a couple of hours going through the Tá and Níl options. We have put a considerable number of Bills through the committee in the past three years. It has been a highly constructive committee. I thank Marie for her time served with the committee over the past six years and wish her well. She is not leaving Leinster House, merely moving to another committee.
Business of Select Committee
I thank Marie for her work on the committee. I am a little over a year on the committee now. As the chairperson will verify, a good secretariat to the committee is invaluable. I wish her well and thank her for her assistance and the work she has done on this committee. I am unsure what committee she is going to but I hope we will cross paths again.
Clerk to the Committee
I am moving to the Joint Committee on Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.
That is my old committee. I wish Marie well there - she will enjoy that.
Clerk to the Committee
I thank the Minister.
I wish Marie well on behalf of the Fianna Fáil members of the committee. Her professionalism and courtesy have been much appreciated by our members. That is not unusual in this House among the staff who support the committees. I wish her well and thank her for everything she has done, especially with the many reports that have been put through the committee in recent years. In my short time on the committee, I have seen the volume of work that has come through. That work often goes unnoticed by people who are not on the committee, especially the effort put in by those on the secretariat. I wish her well and thank her for everything.
I concur with the remarks of Deputy Kelleher and wish Ms Fennell well in her role on the new committee. Our loss is their gain. She has been a fantastic support. As always, every member of staff is patient. They deal with a lot in a changing environment. Anything can come at them. I thank Ms Fennell for her service and wish her well.
Some of our members are tied up in other committees at the moment. I know they send their best wishes to you, Ms Fennell, in the new committee. On behalf of all members, including those not present today and those Senators who are on the joint committee, I wish you well as you move on. I hope you will not be a stranger to us.
I remind members, officials and those in the Visitors Gallery to ensure their mobile phones are switched off for the duration of the meeting as they interfere with the recoding and broadcasting equipment, even when left in silent mode.