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

Today we will deal with Vote 21: Prisons, Vote 24: Department of Justice and Equality and Chapter 9: Development of Prison Accommodation in Dublin. Before we begin our meeting, I remind members and witnesses to turn off their mobile phones 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 their evidence to this committee. However, 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 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 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 the 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. Noel Waters, acting Secretary General of the Department of Justice and Equality and ask him to introduce his colleagues. This is Mr. Waters's first time appearing here as Accounting Officer but he has been before the committee previously.