Apologies have been received from Mickey Brady MP. With the permission of the committee, I wish to go into private session to discuss some housekeeping matters. Is that agreed? Agreed.
Business of Joint Committee
The joint committee went into private session at 1.40 p.m. and resumed in public session at 2.20 p.m.
Before I welcome our guests, the committee welcomes the appointment of the new Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. The secretariat will write to invite him to engage as soon as possible due to the urgency of the issues that have arisen in the past, and arise now, with a view to an early meeting and a productive discussion with him.