John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Today we will examine two chapters from the Comptroller and Auditor General's annual report, chapter 6, the land aggregation scheme, and chapter 7, matters arising from audit of Vote 25 - Environment, Community and Local Government in relation to water services. The committee has scheduled another meeting with the Department in June to discuss the wider Vote issues. Before I begin the meeting I ask members, witnesses and those in the Visitors Gallery to turn off their mobile telephones as they interfere with the sound quality and transmission of the meeting.

I advise witnesses that they are protected by absolute privilege in respect of the evidence they are to give to this committee. If they are directed by the committee to cease giving evidence on a particular matter and continue to so do, they are entitled thereafter only to a qualified privilege in respect of their evidence. They are directed that only evidence connected with the subject matter of these proceedings is to be given, and they are asked to respect the parliamentary practice to the effect that, where possible, they should not criticise or make charges against a Member of either House, a person outside the House, or an official by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.

Members are reminded of the provisions within Standing Order 163 that a committee should also refrain from inquiring into the merits of a policy or policies of the Government, or a Minister of the Government, or the merits of the objectives of such policies.

I welcome Mr. John McCarthy, Secretary General of the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government. Could I ask him to please introduce his officials?