There have been three nominations. I have been informed that Senator Pauline O'Reilly has withdrawn from the race for the position of Vice Chairman. As there are two candidates, I will deal with the nominations in the order in which I received them.
Election of Vice Chairman
Question, "That Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh be elected as Vice Chairman of the committee", put and declared lost.
Question, "That Senator Fiona O'Loughlin be elected as Vice Chairman of the committee", put and declared carried.
I declare Senator Fiona O'Loughlin Vice Chairman of the committee. Well done and congratulations to the Senator. I hope I will not be absent from the Chair on too many occasions, but I know that Senator O'Loughlin will be there willing to help and assist me on any occasion I am.
I thank the Chair. I thank my proposer and seconder also and thank the members for their support. I certainly look forward to working with the Chairman and with all of the members. When I became Chair of the committee almost five years ago, Tara was the first clerk to the committee. I can absolutely attest to how wonderful she is to work with. Of course, we had Niamh for our final 12 months.
We have a robust agenda ahead of us in terms of the mandate we have for the years ahead. It behoves all of us to work well together on the issues that we have outlined on the work programme. I look forward to working with the Chairman and the members.