Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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I have not received any apologies. I am sure our two MEP candidates, Senators Lorraine Higgins and Deirdre Clune, are on the road canvassing. Am I talking to myself?

Eric Byrne (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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The ladies were chatting.

Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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I was complimenting the two members of our committee, Senators Lorraine Higgins and Deirdre Clune, who are seeking nomination to the European Parliament and I wish them well. They will not be with us this afternoon.

Are the draft minutes of the meeting of 12 March, which have been circulated, agreed? Agreed. Unless there are matters arising from them, we will proceed to the main business. Before we proceed to it, I welcome back our foreign affairs adviser, who has been absent from us for 12 months because of family issues - good issues, for a change. We are delighted to have Ms Olive Hempenstall back with us again. She has returned full-time to us in her role as foreign affairs adviser. We hope she had a good time off, a good rest and that her new son is bouncing around the place.

Ms Olive Hempenstall:

Thank you very much.

Eric Byrne (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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I welcome Ms Hempenstall back but we should also say goodbye to the man who so ably substituted in her absence.

Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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That should have been done last week in my absence.

Eric Byrne (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Was the Chairman not here last week?

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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No, and it was the week before that.

Eric Byrne (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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We are doing it now rather belatedly.

Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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I thank Mr. John Deady. He is staying on with the Joint Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement to finish off a few matters. He was helpful to us also over the 12 months and has considerable experience given his role as a former ambassador. We have a letter ready to be signed by myself to thank him for his services to the committee.