I wish to inform the committee that Deputy Martin Brady has been appointed a member of the committee. Deputy Brady has been appointed by the Taoiseach to the position of Vice-Chairman of the committee. I have known the Deputy for quite a long time. He is a hard-working, dedicated public representative who comes from my neighbouring parish on the far side of Virginia in County Cavan. The committee will be enhanced by his membership. I welcome him to the committee on behalf of all the members and assure him of our full support. I look forward to sharing the Chair with him on frequent occasions. His experience and expertise is as a result of his membership of the Dáil and of Dublin City Council, which is the largest local authority in the country. I look forward to working with Deputy Brady for the lifetime of the Government.
Business of Select Committee.
I welcome Deputy Brady. If he is given as many opportunities to chair a meeting as Deputy Conor Lenihan did, he will not be too busy.
If he gets a promotion like Deputy Lenihan did, I am sure he will be very happy.
I welcome my good friend and colleague, Deputy Martin Brady, to the committee. I was delighted to hear of his appointment and I know he will be a great asset. As the Chairman rightly says, the Vice-Chair of this committee is a short stepping stone to ministerial office.
I am delighted to welcome Deputy Brady.
I welcome Deputy Brady to the committee. He will bring a lot of expertise from his past experience.
I also congratulate Deputy Nolan on his appointment. We all rely on him. He and I took our seats as Members of the Oireachtas on the same day, 7 May 1982. I know we are in safe hands as a result of his appointment.
I congratulate Deputy Brady on his appointment as Vice-Chairman. Appointment to this position has always led to a rapid promotion to senior ministerial office and I wish Deputy Brady well. Chairman, when I die, I do not want Martin McGuinness or Gerry Adams giving the oration, I want you to do it, given that performance.
I thank the Chairman and my colleagues for the very kind things they have said about me. I look forward to working closely and co-operating with all the members. I hope the Chairman will share the publicity as well as everything else.
There is no chance of that.
I am sure Deputy Brady will be of great assistance to me in that area.
I have known Deputy Cassidy for a long time. He is a successful self-made businessman. Great credit is due to him because he came from very humble beginnings and worked his way up in the business arena very quickly. Only yesterday evening I was down in County Cavan and somebody was speaking very highly of him and of his brother. I thank all the members for their kind words which I appreciate very much.
If the Deputy wishes to join me by taking the Vice-Chairman's seat, he is very welcome.
I am happy here for the moment.
On behalf of the committee I welcome the new Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Deputy Killeen. I have known Deputy Killeen since he became a Member of the Oireachtas in 1992. He comes from the banner county, from a part of Ireland which is steeped in history. I look forward to working closely with him in this committee. He has done good work on behalf of the membership of the various committees and the commission, before he was given his well-deserved promotion by the Taoiseach.
Apologies have been received from Deputy McHugh. I confirm to members that there will be no Supplementary Estimate this year for the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment. The clerk to the committee was informed of this by the Department yesterday.
Today's meeting has been convened for the purpose of considering Committee Stage of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Bill 2004. I welcome Mr. Eoin Faherty who is deputising for the clerk of the committee. We are in safe hands. I also welcome the assistant clerk who has worked to ensure the efficient running of the committee. Her work is appreciated.