Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The committee is now sitting in public session in its capacity as the joint sub-committee on public petitions. Before we move to the formal business, there are two matters I wish to raise. On behalf of the members of the joint committee, I wish to extend sincerest condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of the six student friends, Ashley Donohoe, Olivia Burke, Eimear Walsh, Eoghan Culligan, Niccolai Schuster and Lorcán Miller, who lost their lives so tragically in Berkeley, California, yesterday. It is a very sad day when six young people with their lives before them are now no longer with us. The committee supports the Minister, his Department and the Government in all their efforts to help the families at this very difficult time. Go ndéanfaidh Dia trócaire ar a n-anaim.

The second matter is committee membership. Yesterday the Dáil made, by motion, the following changes to the membership of this committee: discharged from the joint committee are the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Charles Flanagan, along with Deputies Helen McEntee, Patrick O'Donovan and Noel Harrington. Appointed to replace them are Deputies Pat Deering, Paul J. Connaughton, Anthony Lawlor and Mary Mitchell O'Connor. I thank the members discharged for their service and contributions, and will send a letter of thanks directly to each member. I extend a welcome to the Deputies who have been appointed.