Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I am pleased we are all here in attendance at this important meeting of the Select Committee on Rural and Community Development. As we have a quorum, I call the meeting to order.

At the request of the broadcasting and recording services, members are requested to ensure that for the duration of the meeting our mobile phones are turned off completely or switched to aeroplane, safe or flight mode, depending on the device. It is not sufficient for members to put their phones on silent mode, as I do myself, as this will still interfere with the broadcasting system.

In accordance with standard procedures agreed by the Committee on Procedure and Privileges, to facilitate a paperless committee, all documentation on the meeting has been circulated to members on the document database. I have to remind the clerk that I do not bother about those things. I am on committees and I receive the papers and I intend to continue in that vein. I will be asking that I be furnished with papers.

With the agreement of members we will now go into private session briefly.