Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 14 October 2020

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach

Election of Vice Chairman

Photo of John McGuinnessJohn McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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We have one item of business to attend to before we go into private session, which is the election of a Vice Chairman.

Photo of Neale RichmondNeale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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I nominate Deputy Durkan.

Photo of Jim O'CallaghanJim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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I second that.

Photo of John McGuinnessJohn McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Are there any other nominations?

Photo of Mairead FarrellMairead Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein)
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I nominate Senator Higgins.

Photo of John McGuinnessJohn McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Is there a seconder? No.

Photo of Mairead FarrellMairead Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein)
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It would not be the first vote I have lost.

Photo of John McGuinnessJohn McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Two names have been put forward, namely, those of Deputy Durkan and Senator Higgins.

Photo of Mairead FarrellMairead Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein)
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Senator Higgins is speaking in the Seanad at the moment.

Photo of John McGuinnessJohn McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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I suggest that, as we have both the joint committee and the select committee, we elect Deputy Durkan and that Senator Higgins agrees to work with us on a joint committee basis. Members can decide.

Photo of Mairead FarrellMairead Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein)
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For clarity, because I am new, what does the Chairman mean by on a joint committee basis?

Photo of John McGuinnessJohn McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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The select committee that deals with legislation is made up of Deputies only and general business is done by the joint committee, which includes Senators.

Photo of Mairead FarrellMairead Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein)
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Okay.

Photo of Neale RichmondNeale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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I think that is reasonable and a good compromise.

Photo of John McGuinnessJohn McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Is what I have proposed agreed?

Photo of Jim O'CallaghanJim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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Agreed.

Photo of John McGuinnessJohn McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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It is agreed. During the committee's previous term of four or five years, former Senator Gerry Horkan was Vice Chairman and so was Deputy Peter Burke. They managed that quite well because we sometimes had to go to the Chamber for votes, the Seanad might be sitting or whatever. It works well. They would share their pay and expenses as well. I declare both Deputy Durkan and Senator Higgins to be elected as Vice Chairmen.

The joint committee went into private session at 2.03 p.m. and resumed in public session at 3.32 p.m.