Clerk to the Committee:

We are in public session. As the Chairman, Deputy John O'Mahony, is unable to attend and as the joint committee does not currently have a Vice Chairman, I am taking the chair. As we have a quorum of six members including one Deputy and one Senator, I call the meeting to order. I wish to advise members that they must turn their mobile phones off when attending committee meetings. Active mobile telephones interfere with the sound.

The first item on the agenda is the election of a temporary chairman. I now call for nominations.