Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

No. 1 is consideration of the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources Revised Estimate 2014. The Dáil ordered that the following Revised Estimate for public services be referred to this committee for its consideration: Vote 29 - Communications, Energy and Natural Resources. I welcome the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Deputy Pat Rabbitte, and the Minister of State, Deputy Fergus O'Dowd. They are accompanied by their officials, Mr. Mark Griffin, Secretary General, Mr. Michael Manley, assistant secretary, Mr. Eamonn Molloy, assistant secretary, Ms Katherine Licken, assistant secretary, Mr. Martin Finucane, finance officer, and Mr. Eamonn Confrey.

The purpose of today's meeting is to consider the Revised Estimate and the supplementary performance information on the outputs and impact of programme expenditure. The draft timetable for the meeting has been circulated. Is the timetable agreed? Agreed.

Briefing material providing details of the Revised Estimate was circulated to members. I propose that the following arrangements will apply. There will be no opening statements, the committee will proceed to consider the Revised Estimate programme by programme, and in the preliminary exchange, each programme is to be considered under the headings of context and impact indicators, key outputs, financial and human resource inputs and 2014 allocation and targets. Administration will be considered under these headings when each of the programme areas have been disposed of. I propose that questions on the programmes be taken together at the end, at which point the Minister can respond. Is that agreed? Agreed. Has Deputy Dooley some questions?