Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour) | Oireachtas source

No. 7 on our agenda is the pre-ECOFIN Council briefing by the Minister for Finance. I welcome the Minister and advise members that briefing documents have been circulated by e-mail in advance of the meeting. The Minister will make his opening remarks which will be followed by a question-and-answer session.

I remind members, witnesses and observers in the Visitors Gallery that all mobile phones must be switched off. The meeting is being broadcast by UPC on channel 207 and if a mobile phone is left on, it will interfere with the broadcast, sometimes to the extent that it is seriously disrupted and those watching cannot follow or hear the proceedings.

Members and the Minister are reminded of the long-standing ruling of the Chair to the effect that members should not comment on, criticise or make charges against a person outside the Houses or an official by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable. I now invite the Minister to make his opening statement.