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.

Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein)
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I propose Deputy Michael McCarthy.

Clerk to the Committee:

As there are no other nominations I declare Deputy Michael McCarthy temporary Chairman of the committee and invite him to take the chair.

Michael McCarthy (Cork South West, Labour)
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I propose that we deal with housekeeping matters in private session.