Clerk to the Committee:

This meeting has been convened for the purpose of electing a Chairman following the appointment of the former Chairman, Deputy Joe McHugh, to the position of Minister of State with responsibility for the Gaeltacht and natural resources. Apologies have been received from Deputies Seán Crowe, Martin Ferris and Thomas Pringle, Senator Mary Moran and Mark Durkan MP. I invite nominations for the position of Chairman.