Cuirim fíorchaoin fáilte ar son an choiste seo, Comhchoiste um Fhorfheidhmiú Chomhaontú Aoine an Chéasta, roimh Chathaoirleach Chathair Nua Eabhrac, Ms Christine C. Quinn, go dtí an Teach stairiúil seo, Teach Laighean. Cuirim freisin fáilte roimh a hathair, Mr. Larry Quinn, roimh a cúntóir agus roimh na daoine eile a tháinig anseo ó Nua Eabhrac freisin. Is onóir agus pribhléid dúinn go bhfuil siad go léir anseo linn. Apologies have been received from Lady Sylvia Hermon, MP, Ms Naomi Long, MP, and Deputies Eamon Scanlon and Johnny Brady. I remind members and those in the Visitors' Gallery to ensure mobile telephones and BlackBerrys are switched off for the entire duration of the meeting as they cause interference with recording equipment. Mobile telephones should not be used for any purpose, whether text or other messages, during meetings in this House.
The first item is the minutes of the previous meeting on 30 September 2010. Do any matters arise from this? Are the minutes agreed? Agreed. The proposal made by An Teachta Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin has been seconded by Senator Keaveney. Is that agreed? Agreed.
I warmly welcome our colleagues from the Northern Ireland Assembly and MPs from Northern Ireland, the leader of the SDLP, Ms Margaret Ritchie, MP, MLA, Dr. Alasdair McDonnell, MP, MLA, the Northern Ireland Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development, Ms Michelle Gildernew, MP, MLA, Mr. Pat Doherty, MP, MLA, and our friends from Northern Ireland. It is a particular pleasure on behalf of members, the committee and everyone associated with Leinster House to warmly welcome the Speaker of the New York City Council, a great friend of Ireland, Ms Christine Quinn. A delegation from this committee visited New York in June and had the privilege of meeting Speaker Quinn and attending part of a public hearing on the New York City Council budget. It was a prelude to how we can respond to various budgets on both parts of this island and was helpful. Before and since her election as New York City Council Speaker, Ms Christine Quinn, established herself as a steadfast friend of Ireland. For New Yorkers, she is regarded as a champion of working families and someone who has worked to make the council more responsive and transparent. I welcome her father, Mr. Larry Quinn, whose origins are in Cobh, Schull and Goleen, that beautiful part of the southern republic of Cork. He was a great host when we visited New York. We also welcome Ms Meghan Linehan, the Speaker's assistant, and the other visitors from New York, including Ms Rita O'Hare.
Speaker Quinn has a great interest in Irish affairs, particularly Irish culture and the Northern Ireland peace process. The Irish Echo newspaper named Speaker Quinn as the 2008 Irish-American of the year, underscoring her consistent ability to deal with issues, many of them complex and not given to easy resolution, and at the same time maintaining a pace of work that would leave many breathless. She has been hugely supportive of the development of an Irish arts centre in New York City and the development of our beloved Gaelic Park. I have visited that place on many occasions and, along with Deputy Jimmy Deenihan, I had the pleasure of being there in 1980. Speaker Quinn also provided council funding for a census of elderly Irish people in the New York borough of Queens. Her support of the Irish-American community is practical and consistent. I also acknowledge the visitors who came here. We are delighted they are with us.
Members are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice, or long-standing rule of the Chair, to the effect that members should not comment on, criticise or make charges against a person outside the Houses or an official either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable. By virtue of section 17(2)(l) of the Defamation Act 2009, witnesses are protected by absolute privilege in respect of the evidence they give this committee. If anybody is directed by the committee or its Chairman to cease giving evidence in relation to a particular matter and continues to so do, he or she is entitled thereafter only to a qualified privilege in respect of evidence given. Witnesses are directed that only evidence connected with the subject matter of these proceedings is to be given and are asked to respect the parliamentary practice to the effect that, where possible, they should not criticise nor make charges against any person, persons or entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable.
I understand it will not be possible for Ms Quinn to discuss US national issues and that she will confine her remarks to matters relating to New York City. I ask that my colleagues bear this mind when asking questions. It is a great privilege to welcome Ms Quinn and I ask her to address the committee.