John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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This is the first meeting of the Joint Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach. Due to Covid-19 the business of our meeting will be conducted in a very different type of way. If any members have any suggestions as to how we might do that, please feel free to come forward with them. For my part, as Chairman, I will do the best I can in being impartial and fair to the members. The item on the agenda before us now is the election of the Vice-Chairman. We can consider this today or leave it until next week, it will be up to the members.

The members can make nominations as to who might be interested and these can be sent into the clerk to the committee and we can take it then at the next meeting. Is that agreed?

Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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That is agreed.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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I should mention, Chairman, that I was told to allow my name to go forward. I did not ask that my name go forward.

John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Deputy Durkan does not have to allow his name to go forward.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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No, I do not.

John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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They only asked the Deputy he does not have to-----

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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That is all right, Chairman. We will take it as read that there was a gun put to my head to go forward. Whether that is acceptable or not, I do not know.

John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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We will see if there are any other contenders-----

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Exactly.

John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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We will then judge the quality of the candidate over the coming week.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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I would be all in favour of that, normally.

John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Democracy has to prevail-----

Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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And if he has really earned it.

John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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We will leave the Deputy hanging for a week.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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It would not be the first time.

John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Is that agreed?

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Agreed.

Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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Yes, and obviously as this is a joint committee, either a Senator or a Deputy can be a vice-chairperson.

John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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I believe that is correct. We will now go into private session.

John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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The purpose of our returning to public session is to note the fact that we have postponed our discussion on EU matters and that we will come back to them at our next meeting.

The meeting is now adjourned and I thank all in attendance.