Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I remind members, witnesses and those in the Public Gallery to turn off their mobile phones completely as they may interfere with the recording of the meeting.

Before we welcome our distinguished visitors and guests, who were invited at the request of Senator Ó Céidigh, I will address one issue that arose following our previous meeting, regarding the Ardee bypass, which Transport Infrastructure Ireland, TII, has decided to review or pause. Following the meeting, I wrote to the chief executive of TII and asked to meet him to discuss this important issue. He responded yesterday evening but did not respond to my request to meet him. I am concerned about that and consider it unacceptable that he will not meet the Chairman of the committee to discuss the matter further and other issues that may arise. I propose that, with the consent of the committee, we write to TII seeking transparency and accountability on its decision to cease the tender of the project, and seeking its files and documents from 30 September. I believe that was the date, although I will confirm that with the clerk to the committee later, on which it instructed Louth County Council not to proceed. It is appropriate and proper that we request all the documentation and reports TII has relating the decision. When we receive them, we should consider them but in the meantime, with members' permission, I will write formally again to the chief executive and seek a meeting with him.

I turn to minority sports in Ireland. Senator Ó Céidigh has been active in encouraging the committee to identify, support, laud and applaud successful people in minority sports in our country. We are delighted that, at his request, the following representatives from Rowing Ireland are present: Ms Michelle Carpenter, chief executive; Mr. Eamon Colclough, president; and Mr. Neville Maxwell, Olympian, chairman of the Rowing Ireland high performance committee and member of the board. I also welcome Ms Sanita Puspure, Olympian, twice world gold medallist and 2019 European champion in the Olympic boat class, and Mr. Phil Doyle, world silver medallist in the Olympic boat class. Their achievements are fantastic. Finally, I welcome Ms Eimear Lambe, Ms Aifric Keogh, Ms Claire Feerick, Ms Mary Moloney, Mr. Stephen King, Mr. Fran Keane, Mr. Dominic Casey, Mr. Ronan Byrne, Mr. Fintan McCarthy, Mr. Leo Gibson, Ms Monica Dukarska and Ms Tara O'Hanlon, who are sitting in the Public Gallery. Our guests are very welcome and we are delighted for them to appear before the committee. It is great to see so many people achieving so much in sport.

I invite Senator Ó Céidigh to address the committee.