Clerk to the Committee:

As there is a quorum of six members, including one Teachta Dála and one Senator, I will call the meeting to order. I remind members to turn off mobile phones when attending committee meetings.

The first item on the agenda is the election of a Chairman. I call for nominations for the position of Chairman of the Joint Committee on Transport and Communications.

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I nominate Deputy John O'Mahony.

Clerk to the Committee:

As there are no other nominations, I declare Deputy John O'Mahony to be Chairman of the joint committee, and I invite him to take the Chair.

Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I thank members for electing me in the shortest campaign on record. I thank the outgoing Chairman, the Minister of State, Deputy Tom Hayes, and wish him well in his new post. I welcome Deputy Helen McEntee, Deputy Paudie Coffey and Deputy Brendan Griffin, who have been appointed to the committee.

I propose that Deputies Griffin and McEntee should sit on either the Select Sub-Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport or the Select Sub-Committee on Communications, Energy and Natural Resources.

Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Okay.