John Lahart (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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Greetings everyone. The world is moving fast. There have been elections and trade deals and all sorts of thing happening around the globe since we met just a few days ago.

I advise members of the constitutional requirement that they must be physically present within the confines of the Leinster House complex in order to participate in public meetings. I will not permit members to participate where they are not adhering to this constitutional requirement. Therefore, a member who attempts to participate from outside the precincts will be asked to leave the meeting. In this regard, I ask members participating via MS Teams that, prior to making their contributions to the meeting, they confirm that they are on the grounds of the Leinster House complex.

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 respect of an identifiable person or entity, they will be directed to discontinue your remarks. It is imperative that they comply with any such direction.

The first item on the agenda is the nomination for Leas-Chathaoirleach. As agreed at the first meeting of the committee, nominations for the position of Leas-Chathaoirleach where received. Those are, in the order they were received, Senator Garret Ahearn and Deputy Cathy Bennett. We will consider the nominations in the order they were received. We can do this by way of normal protocol or we can go into private session to have a conversation about it. Is it agreed we use normal protocol? Agreed.

I will put the question on the first nominee, that Senator Garret Ahearn be elected Leas-Chathaoirleach. Is that agreed? Not agreed.

John Lahart (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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I declare Senator Garret Ahearn elected as Leas-Chathaoirleach. I congratulate the newly elected Leas-Chathaoirleach and I commiserate with Deputy Cathy Bennett who had put her name forward. Would Senator Garret Ahearn like to say a few words?

Garret Ahearn (Fine Gael)
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I thank everyone for the democratic process, which is very important. As I said last week, I look forward to working with each member in this committee. I think we have a great team of 14 Oireachtas Members who can do an awful lot of work over the next five years. I look forward to working with them all.

Cathy Bennett (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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I thank everyone who supported me. I wish Senator Garret Ahearn well in the position going forward. Hopefully he will not have too much work to do and Deputy John Lahart will be in position most of time. Comhghairdeas.

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South-Central, Sinn Fein)
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Best wishes to Senator Ahearn. We were of the view that a balance in Opposition and Government would be positive but I have no doubt he will do a very good job in his role. Our objective as a committee is to work in a collegiate way to try to deliver what we can. Best wishes to him in his role.

John Lahart (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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I appreciate that. We will now go into private session to deal with some housekeeping matters.