Clerk to the Committee:

Apologies have been received from Deputies Áine Collins, Seán Kyne and Peadar Tóibín and Senators John Kelly and Feargal Quinn.

Following the appointment of Deputy Damien English to the position of Minister of State at the Department of Education and Skills and the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, this meeting has been convened for the purpose of electing a new Chairman. I invite nominations for the position.

Anthony Lawlor (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Before we move to the business of electing a Chairman, why could this meeting not have been held last Thursday? Many of us have been pulled from rural parts of the country. We do not mind, but we had already postponed a meeting that was due to be held today. Will the Clerk to the Committee inform us why this meeting could not have been held last Thursday when I made such a request?

Clerk to the Committee:

As Clerk to the Committee-----

John Lyons (Dublin North West, Labour)
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The only thing I can say is that, as Vice Chairman, I was contacted on Thursday to set the procedures in motion to arrange the meeting which we were asked to hold today. Other than that, I do not know anything.

Anthony Lawlor (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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I requested that the meeting be held last Thursday, if possible.

Clerk to the Committee:

We had just received notice from the Government Chief Whip's office.

Anthony Lawlor (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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I nominate Deputy Marcella Corcoran Kennedy.

John Lyons (Dublin North West, Labour)
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I second that nomination.

Clerk to the Committee:

As there are no other nominations, I declare Deputy Marcella Corcoran Kennedy Chairman of the committee.

Marcella Corcoran Kennedy (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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I thank members for coming. As I know that it is very hard to be called back when the Dáil has gone into recess, it is particularly appreciated. I thank them for electing me as Chairman of the Joint Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation. It is a great honour to be Chairman of an Oireachtas committee and I look forward to working with its members. I thank, in particular, Deputy Anthony Lawlor for proposing me and Deputy John Lyons for seconding my nomination. It is wonderful that they were happy to do this for me and it is genuinely appreciated.

Having taken the Chair, it is only opportune to congratulate Deputy Damien English on his appointment as Minister of State at the Department of Education and Skills and the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation. I know that he and the committee have done a lot of good work since its establishment in June 2012 in examining issues such as youth unemployment, mentoring, the status of casual workers, the economic development strategy for the south-east region and, the subject of last week's important report, access to finance for SMEs. I know that the committee is looking at policy options to support business growth, job creation and retention in town and village centres.

In the autumn session it is planned to discuss with the Minister the mid-term review of Vote 32, as well as the issues of public procurement, informal insolvencies, entrepreneurship, future economic growth and emigration, to mention a few areas of interest; therefore, there is plenty for us on which to work. I am very keen to hear from and work with every member in a collegial manner. I also look forward to hearing members' plans and priorities. As I like to think I am very fair, I will endeavour to be a fair and impartial Chairman for all members. I very much look forward to the challenge and I am confident that we will work well together. I have heard great reports about how the committee has operated in a collegial manner to date and would like to continue in that vein. All that remains is for me to wish members a lovely break.