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

Today we will examine the report on the Bytel project, which was jointly carried out by the Northern Ireland Audit Office and the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General here. We had a meeting in Stormont on this and we dealt with it there. The report has been published.

Before we begin the hearing, I want to remind members, witnesses and those in the Visitors Gallery to turn off their mobile phones because they interfere with the sound quality and the transmission of the meeting. I ask people to take their phones away from the area in front of the microphones, as I think that is part of the problem.

I want to 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 in relation to a particular matter and they continue to do so, 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 nor 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 provision within Standing Order 163 that the committee shall also refrain from inquiring into the merits of a policy or policies of the Government or the Minister of a Government or the merits of the objectives of such policies.

I welcome Mr. Mark Griffin, Secretary General of the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, and ask him to introduce his officials. I know this is Mr. Griffin's first time before the committee.