Apologies have been received from Senator Gerard Craughwell. I welcome Deputy Colm Brophy, who has been formally nominated to join this committee to replace the Minister of State, Deputy Emer Higgins. I thank Deputy Higgins for all her hard work with the committee and wish her all the best in her new role as Minister of State with responsibility for business, employment and retail at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment.
The next item on the agenda is the approval of the minutes of the private and public meetings of 8 and 9 May 2024. The minutes have already been approved in a virtual private meeting but for procedural reasons, they must be approved in public. Are the minutes agreed? Agreed.
The next item is the work programme for 2024. The question is that we approve the work programme for 2024 and that it be laid before both Houses of the Oireachtas. It has already been approved in a virtual private meeting but we must do this for procedural reasons. Is that 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, in order 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.