Dominic Hannigan (Meath East, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I apologise to our guests for the delay. A number of Senators were obliged to attend in the Upper House for a vote. I will begin by reminding members, our guests and those in the Gallery to switch off their mobile phones completely. It is not sufficient to put them on silent because they can still interfere with the recording equipment.

Our first session today relates to the work of the European Court of Auditors, its annual report for 2013 and landscape reviews it has carried out. As I informed members, we will then have an informal briefing session with representatives from Dóchas on the European year for development 2015.

On behalf of the committee, I welcome the current Irish member of the European Court of Auditors, Mr. Kevin Cardiff, and his colleagues, Mr. Ned Fennessy and Ms Mary Kerrigan. The European Court of Auditors is the independent external audit institution of the European Union. In its annual reports on the EU budget, the court gives its opinion on the reliability of the accounts and the legality of the transactions underlying them. The committee also will be briefed on landscape reports undertaken by the court, which is a very interesting development. We are starting late and there is limited time for discussion. If we could manage to conclude this section of our business by 3.30 p.m., it would be helpful to Mr. Cardiff.
Before we begin, I remind members of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that they should not comment on, criticise or make charges against a person outside the House or an official either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable. By virtue of section 17(2)(l) of the Defamation Act 2009, witnesses are protected by absolute privilege in respect of the evidence they give the committee. However, if they are directed by the committee to cease giving evidence in regard to a particular matter and they continue to do so, they are entitled thereafter only to qualified privileged in respect of the evidence they give. Witnesses are further directed that only evidence connected with today's proceedings is to be given. Witnesses are asked to respect the parliamentary practice to the effect that, where possible, they should not criticise or make charges against a person or entity either by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable.
I invite Mr. Cardiff to give his opening statement.