DÁIL ÉIREANN

AN COMHCHOISTE UM NITHE A BHAINEANN LE MÍCHUMAS

JOINT COMMITTEE ON DISABILITY MATTERS

Dé Céadaoin, 14 Deireadh Fómhair 2020

Wednesday, 14 October 2020

Tháinig an Comhchoiste le chéile ag 4.30 p.m.

The Joint Committee met at 4.30 p.m.

Comhaltaí a bhí i láthair / Members present:

Teachtaí Dála / Deputies Seanadóirí / Senators , , Seán Canney, Alice-Mary Higgins, , Erin McGreehan, , Fiona O’Loughlin, Violet-Anne Wynne. .

Teachta / Deputy Michael Moynihan sa Chathaoir / in the Chair.

1 JDM Business of Joint Committee

Chairman: Apologies have been received from Deputies Jennifer Murnane O’Connor and .

It is a singular honour to be elected Chairman of the committee. I welcome the new Mem- bers of the Dáil and the Seanad, and Members of the previous Dáil and Seanad. I hope the com- mittee will make a difference to people who live with disabilities, and their families. I intend to try to push it to the extreme and be as effective as humanly possible. We can only be effective with members’ guidance and co-operation. I know that each and every member has an interest in it and will be able to drive it as far as possible. We need to use the committees of the Houses of the to advance the cause of people with disabilities, in conjunction with all other stakeholders. That I intend to do. I am really looking forward to the challenge.

Everything has been affected by Covid, which could not have been envisaged a short time ago. The challenges presented will also require a different approach to how Oireachtas com- mittees conduct their business. I trust that all members will work with me to ensure that this committee works as effectively and safely as possible during these challenging times.

This is my third Oireachtas committee to chair. I have always acted impartially and fairly, and that I intend to do. I look forward to working with the committee members. When we have witnesses in front of the committee, I ask that we treat them with the utmost respect. The strength of our committee will be to get as much information as possible from our witnesses to empower us. Making sure the witnesses are treated with the utmost respect while in front of us will generate the best result.

Election of Vice Chairman

Chairman: I propose that we commence with the election of Vice Chairman of this com- mittee. Under Standing Orders, the committee may elect a Vice Chairman. I ask for nomina- tions for the position.

Senator Erin McGreehan and Deputy Pauline Tully are nominated and seconded for the position of Vice Chairman.

Senator Alice-Mary Higgins: I also sit on the Joint Committee on Finance, Public Expen- diture and Reform, and . They made the decision to have a Vice Chairman who is a Senator and a Vice Chairman who is a Deputy. They act as joint Vice Chairmen. That may be another option available to the committee.

Chairman: I thank Senator Higgins and I appreciate that. I do not have any difficulty with that. I would like to have as much unity as is humanly possible for the purposes of dealing with the challenges ahead. I do not want to divide the committee in its first meeting. If it is agree- able to members that we have a Vice Chairman from the Seanad and a Vice Chairman from the Dáil, then I have no difficulty with that. I am in the committee’s hands. Is that agreed? Agreed.

I congratulate Senator Erin McGreehan on being elected as Vice Chairman from the Seanad and Deputy Pauline Tully on being elected as Vice Chairman from the Dáil.

2 14 OCTOBER 2020 Senator Fiona O’Loughlin: I congratulate both.

Chairman: I propose that we go into private session to deal with some housekeeping mat- ters. Is that agreed? Agreed.

The joint committee went into private session at 4.35 p.m. and adjourned at 5.23 p.m. until 4 p.m. on Wednesday, 21 October 2020.

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