An dara rud atá ar an chlár inniu ná toghchán an Leas-Chathaoirligh. I invite nominations for the position of Leas-Chathaoirleach of this committee.
Election of Vice Chairman
I nominate Deputy Michael McCarthy.
I second that nomination.
Are there any other nominations? As there are no other nominations, I deem Deputy Michael McCarthy to be elected as Leas-Chathaoirleach of the committee. Bá mhaith liom comhgairdeas a ghabháil leis an Teachta McCarthy mar tá sé tofa anois mar Leas-Chathaoirleach. I wish him every success in the future working with the committee. No doubt with his skills as well, we will be able to guide the committee through its work.
Thank you, Chairman. I thank the members of the committee for the unanimous support for my election to the position of Vice Chairman. This is an important committee and if we get the necessary resources and the Government holds the referendum in October to give us the powers we need, it will also be a reforming committee and will do justice to the Oireachtas and how it does its business. A committee on investigations, petitions and oversight is important. During the last Seanad we changed Standing Orders to include provision for petitions but we did not get beyond that. I look forward to working with the Chairman and members of the committee to ensure it is successful and productive.
I congratulate Deputies Tóibín and McCarthy on their election as Chairman and Vice Chairman. As Deputy McCarthy said, this could become a very important committee within the Houses of the Oireachtas subject to a decision of the electorate in the referendum later this year. I look forward to working with long-standing and new Members of the Oireachtas in what I hope will be an important committee. The work of the committee will be done on a cross-party basis and I look forward to our continuing with our work.
I wish the Chairman and the Vice Chairman every success in the years ahead. They bring a wealth of experience to their roles and I look forward to working with them and all other members of the committee.
Ar son ghrúpa Fhianna Fáil, gabhaim comhghairdeas don Chathaoirleach agus don Teachta McCarthy as ucht bheith tofa. I congratulate the Chairman and Deputy McCarthy. This committee is a blank sheet and it is up to us to put our stamp on it for future committees to follow. We will probably discuss the various terms later in the committee but I assure the Chairman, the Vice Chairman and the staff of the committee of our full support.
Gabhaim comhghairdeas leis na Teachtaí Tóibín agus McCarthy agus le gach duine atá ar an choiste. Tá ról mór le himirt againn agus tá súil agam go mbeimid in ann é sin a dhéanamh agus an coiste á chur ar bun againn. Beidh a lán déileáil leis an tacaíocht a fuair muid ón phobal agus ónár bpáirtithe chun é seo a dhéanamh. We have an important role ahead of us. We have the faith of our parties placed in us that we will be able to put together a petitions, oversight and investigation procedure that has not existed until now. That is a major challenge and it will be difficult at times but the electorate has spoken of the need for openness, transparency and accountability and this is one of the mechanisms that will deliver that for the public in future.
I also congratulate the Chairman and Vice Chairman. Ironically, as I was coming into the meeting, I was talking to a man outside Leinster House who quickly raised the culture of secrecy that exists in Ireland. This was a surprising comment from this man. He said he looks forward to the new Government being able to lift the veil of secrecy and bring things into the open. I see this committee playing an important role in that, particularly with the proposed amendment to the Constitution in the autumn, which will allow us to bring accountability and transparency to the heart of Government. I would like to play a part in that.
The joint committee went into private session at 3.15 p.m. and adjourned at 3.40 p.m. until 4 p.m. on Wednesday, 20 July 2011.