Seòmar agus comataidhean

You have been appointed as the convener. Will you tell us who your deputy convener is, please?

Is the committee happy that I will sign off the report to the Parliament?

Members indicated agreement.

Does anyone have any questions?

The British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly has been in existence for a long time. It allows co-ordination between parliamentarians from the different areas, and I know from experience how valuable its work is. Although this was not confirmed in the evidence that we took, I am quite sure that BIPA will be involved. If we agree to recognise the proposed CPG on Ireland, I undertake to speak to its convener, to pass on your comments.

I now welcome to the committee Rona Mackay MSP, who is joining us to speak to a proposal for a CPG on women, families and justice. I invite Ms Mackay to make some opening comments about the proposed group.

That is very helpful. As no committee members have further questions before I close the evidence session, I thank the minister and those who advised him for their evidence, which has been very helpful.

We move to agenda items 3 and 4, for which the minister will stay in order to formally move the motions. If necessary, we will have a debate on the matter. I invite the minister to speak to and move motion S6M-01320.

That is kind. Thank you very much indeed, Sarah.

Agenda item 8 is on the approval of cross-party groups. It is for the committee to consider whether to accord recognition to the proposed cross-party groups that we have heard from today—that is, the proposed cross-party group on Ireland, the proposed cross-party group on long Covid, the proposed cross-party group on outdoor education, the proposed cross-party group on women, families and justice, and the proposed cross-party group on culture and communities.

Do members have any comments to make before I formally ask the committee whether to accord recognition to the proposed cross-party groups?

We will now consider the proposed CPG on long Covid. I welcome to the meeting Jackie Baillie, who is a co-convener of the proposed group. Again, we will make a decision on the proposed CPG under the next agenda item, and the clerks will notify you of the decision in due course. I invite you to make an opening statement on your proposed CPG.

You are a co-convener, so it is right to note that Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP and Sandesh Gulhane MSP are the other co-conveners—is that correct?

We will now have a short suspension.