I welcome everyone to our public meeting. Apologies have been received from Senator Warfield.
Business of Joint Committee
I apologise on behalf of Deputy O'Donoghue, who is absent because his cousin died.
All those present in the committee room are asked to exercise personal responsibility to protect themselves and others from the risk of contracting Covid-19. The first item on the agenda is the approval of the minutes of our private and public meetings on 18 and 19 January 2023, respectively. They have already been approved at our virtual private meeting, but for procedural reasons they must be approved in public. Are the minutes agreed? Agreed.
I remind members of the constitutional requirement that they must be physically present within the confines of the place in which Parliament has chosen to sit, namely, Leinster House, to participate in public meetings. I will not permit a member to participate where he or she is not adhering to this constitutional requirement. Therefore, any member who attempts to participate from outside the precincts will be asked to leave the meeting.