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

Members should switch off their mobile phones as they interfere with the broadcasting equipment. As a result, the proceedings are not broadcast properly.

This meeting has been convened to allow the Dáil Select Sub-Committee on Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht to consider in detail and question the Minister on the 2014 Revised Estimates for Vote 33 - Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht and Vote 34 - National Gallery of Ireland. The Revised Estimates from the Department, with a list of suggested questions from the committee secretariat, have been circulated to members, all of whom I hope have studied them and will use the information provided for them in giving close consideration to the Department's outlet targets, around which we need to establish the issues.

I welcome the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Deputy Jimmy Deenihan, and the Minister of State, Deputy Dinny McGinley. I also welcome the officials from the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Mr. Feargal Ó Coigligh, assistant secretary; Mr. Niall Ó Donnchú, assistant secretary; Mr. Brian Ó Raghallaigh, assistant secretary; Ms Máire Killoran, stiúrthóir na Gaeilge; and Mr. Trevor Donnelly, assistant principal officer in the finance unit. I thank them for their attendance and invite the Minister to make his opening statement.