Noel Coonan (Tipperary North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

As we have a quorum of six members, including one Teachta Dála and one Seanadóir, I call the meeting to order. I wish to advise members that they must turn off their mobile telephones when attending committee meetings. Active mobile telephones interfere with the sound system and RTE has informed us that it will not broadcast any part of the meeting where interference from mobile telephones has occurred.

I wish to remind members that we are in public session. Apologies have been received from An Seanadóir Mac Conghail.

We will move on to the first item on the agenda. Subsequent to the discharge from this committee of Deputy Ciarán Lynch, I wish to read into the record of this meeting the relevant extract of the following order, which was passed by Dáil Éireann on 10 October 2012.

Go ndéanfar an Teachta Ciarán Ó Loinsigh a urscaoileadh ón Roghchoiste um Chomhshaol, Cultúr agus Gaeltacht agus go ndéanfar an Teachta Micheál Mac Cárthaigh a cheapadh ina ionad.

That Deputy Ciarán Lynch be discharged from the Select Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht and that Deputy Michael McCarthy be appointed in substitution for him.

I avail of this opportunity to thank Deputy Ciarán Lynch for his contribution to this committee and the work he has done. On behalf of the joint committee, I suggest the clerk to the committee send a letter of thanks to him and wish him well in his new position as Chairman of the Joint Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform. We would be delighted in Tipperary when we get rid of one Cork man but unfortunately on this occasion - or perhaps fortunately - another Cork man is about to replace the former Chairman.

As the committee now has a vacancy for the position of Cathaoirleach of the committee, I will accept nominations for this position.