Mairéad Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein)
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Tá leithscéalta faighte againn ó na Seanadóirí Joe O’Reilly agus Alice-Mary Higgins. Sula leanfaidh muid ar aghaidh, tá orm roinnt sonraí a scapadh maidir le himeachtaí an chruinnithe seo. De réir na mBuan-Ordaithe, is maith liom é seo a leanas a dearbhú:

Dearbhaím go sollúnta go ndéanfaidh mé, go cuí agus go dílis agus a mhéid is eol agus is cumas dom, oifig Chathaoirleach An Comhchoiste um Airgeadas, Caiteachas Poiblí, Athchóiriúchán Seirbhíse Poiblí agus Digitiúchán, agus an Taoiseach a fheidhmiú gan scáth gan fabhar, na rialacha mar atá siad leagtha síos ag an Teach seo a chur i bhfeidhm go cothrom neamhchlaonta, ord a choimeád agus cearta agus pribhléidí comhaltaí a chaomhnú de réir an Bhunreachta agus mBuan-Orduithe.

Is mian liom na riachtanais bunreachtúil seo a leanas a meabhrú do chomhaltaí: nuair atá páirt á nglacadh acu i gcruinnithe poiblí, caithfidh siad a bheith i láthair go fisiciúil laistigh de theorannacha suímh Theach Laighean, agus caithfidh comhaltaí an chomhchoiste atá ag freastal ar chruinnithe ó chian é sin a dhéanamh laistigh de phurlán Theach Laighean. Is é an chúis leis seo ná gur riachtanas bunreachtúil é go gcaithfidh comhaltaí a bheith i láthair go fisiciúil laistigh de shuíomh na háite atá roghnaithe ag an bParlaimint i leith a suíonna agus páirt á nglacadh acu i gcruinnithe poiblí. Maidir leis seo, iarraim ar chomhaltaí a dheimhniú go bhfuil siad i láthair laistigh de phurlán Theach Laighean sula ndéanann siad aon ionchur sa chruinniú ó Microsoft Teams.

Fiafraítear de chomhaltaí cleachtadh parlaiminte a urramú, nár chóir, más féidir, daoine nó eintiteas a cháineadh ná líomhaintí a dhéanamh ina n-aghaidh ná tuairimí a thabhairt maidir leo ina ainm, ina hainm nó ina n-ainmneacha ar shlí a bhféadfaí iad a aithint. Chomh maith leis sin, fiafraítear díobh gan aon rud a rá a d’fhéadfaí breathnú air mar ábhar díobhálach do dhea-chlú aon duine nó eintiteas. Mar sin, dá bhféadfadh a ráitis a bheith clúmhillteach do dhuine nó eintiteas aitheanta, ordófar dóibh éirí as an ráiteas láithreach. Tá sé ríthábhachtach go ngéillfeadh siad leis an ordú sin láithreach.

I remind members of the constitutional requirement that in order to participate in public meetings, members must be physically present within the confines of the Leinster House complex. Members of the committee attending remotely must do so from within the precincts of Leinster House. This is due to the constitutional requirement that in order to participate in public meetings, members must be physically present within the confines of the place where Parliament has chosen to sit. In this regard, I ask any member participating via MS Teams, prior to making a contribution to the meeting, to confirm he or she is on the grounds of the Leinster House campus. Members are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice that they should not criticise or make charges against any person or entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable or otherwise engage in speech that might be regarded as damaging to the good name of the person or entity. Therefore, if their statements are potentially defamatory in relation to an identifiable person or entity, I will direct them to discontinue their remarks. It is imperative that members comply with any such direction.

Guím tráthnóna maith ar na comhaltaí. Tá áthas orm an onóir a bheith agam a bheith ceaptha mar Chathaoirleach ar an gComhchoiste um Airgeadas, Caiteachas Poiblí, Athchóiriúchán Seirbhíse Poiblí agus Digitiúchán, agus an Taoiseach. Cuirim fáilte roimh na comhaltaí go léir mar chomhaltaí an Chomhchoiste um Airgeadas, Caiteachas Poiblí, Athchóiriúchán Seirbhíse Poiblí agus Digitiúchán, agus an Taoiseach de chuid Thithe an Oireachtais. Táim ag súil lena bheith ag obair leo go léir i bhfíorchomhpháirtíocht bunaithe ar dhea-mhéin agus ar chomhoibriú agus go mbeidh muid in ann dul i ngleic leis an iomaí ábhar agus dúshlán i leith na Ranna atá faoi chúram an choiste.

Good afternoon members. I am delighted and honoured to have been appointed Cathaoirleach of the Joint Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, and Taoiseach. I welcome all members of the committee and look forward to working with you all in a genuine spirit of partnership and co-operation and in addressing the many issues and challenges facing the Departments under the remit of the committee. I would like to open the floor to members if they would like to make a comment.

Edward Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I wish the Chairman the best in her role and wish her every success in her tenure.

Mairéad Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein)
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Go raibh míle maith agat. Thank you so much. Unless anybody else would like to make a comment, we can move on to ainmniúcháin don Leas-Chathaoirleach, nominations for the Leas-Chathaoirleach. As members are aware, a committee may choose to nominate a Leas-Chathaoirleach who can perform the duties and exercise the duties of the Cathaoirleach in her absence. I propose requesting nominations for the position of Leas-Chathaoirleach. Members might wish to consult with one another and send nominations to the clerk by 16 May, which is Friday. I will read my note and then take any questions. Ideally, the election of the Leas-Chathaoirleach will take place on 21 May. Are there any questions or comments on that?

Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour)
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Congratulations, Chair, on your appointment. I echo Deputy Timmins's sentiments. You have our full support. I would be interested in potentially contesting for Vice Chair. Is there a form available-----

Mairéad Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein)
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You just send-----

Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour)
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-----or should I simply request the support of colleagues?

Mairéad Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein)
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Yes.

Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour)
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I am assuming a proposer and seconder is required at least.

Mairéad Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein)
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If you want to express your interest and sent it in writing to the secretariat, that might be the best bet. We will find out at that point if it is contested or not.

Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour)
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I thank the Chair for her guidance.

Mairéad Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein)
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Is that okay? Is there anybody who would like to comment on anything or ask a question? There seem to be questions.

Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
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Ar an gcéad dul síos, déanaim chomhghairdeas leis an gCathaoirleach.

Mairéad Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein)
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Go raibh maith agat.

Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
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Maidir leis an ainmniúchán, tarlóidh sé sin ag an chéad cruinniú eile. An bhfuil dáta socraithe lena aghaidh?

Mairéad Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein)
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Is féidir le daoine a bhfuil suim acu sa ról an t-ainmniúchán a chur isteach agus a léiriú roimh an 16 Bealtaine. Is féidir é a chur chuig an secretariat. If members have an interest and would like to put themselves forward, they may express that interest in writing to the secretariat by 16 May. We hope to have a meeting on 21 May and we could make a decision at it, all going to plan. Is that okay? Are there any other questions or comments? Are we good? Go maith.