The first item on the agenda is the election of Chairman. I now invite nominations.
Election of Chairman.
Clerk to the Committee
I propose Deputy Willie Penrose.
Clerk to the Committee
Are there any other nominations for the position? As there are no other nominations, I declare Deputy Willie Penrose elected as Chairman.
Deputy Willie Penrose took the Chair.
I thank the committee for electing me to the position of Chairman. I am deeply honoured to have been elected unanimously. I welcome all members, particularly those who are newly elected Members of the Dáil or Seanad. I also thank my colleague, Senator Ryan, for proposing me.
I look forward to working with all of you in the spirit and partnership and co-operation. I am confident we will bring our combined skills and enthusiasm to bear to make this a highly productive committee that discharges its functions in an efficient and enlightened way.
I pay tribute to the members of the outgoing Joint Committee on Enterprise and Small Business who brought their own experience and knowledge to the working of that committee. Their work in the area of insurance was particularly significant and I look forward to continuing along that route. I hope this committee will be equally effective. I expect that we will refer to and build on the previous committee's valuable work programme, which identified the pertinent trade and employment issues that need to be addressed.
I would like the members of this committee to choose an area for examination which we will examine and report on, rather than relying on consultants. In the 29th Dáil, I chaired the Joint Committee on Social and Family Affairs, of which Senator Carty was also a member. The committee wrote an important report on full-time carers on which the Minister and the Government relied heavily so that significant advances were achieved in that area. Rather than rely on consultants, I exhort my colleagues to pursue the view of the committee in some important area of business, enterprise or labour law, carry out an examination and bring forward a report. I find that Government often reacts positively to a report emanating from within a committee and is inclined to act on the findings of such a report. We could summon witnesses and do whatever is needed to compile such a report. The area for examination will be a matter for the members of the joint committee; I do not indicate a particular subject. The examination of the carers issue was very productive and I exhort my colleagues to pursue such a project. I believe Senator Carty shares my view.