Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

We will proceed with the address of the Supplementary Estimates for Votes 20 and 22, An Garda Síochána and the Courts Service, respectively. They were referred by the Dáil to the committee on 22 November with the instruction to report back to the Dáil by 8 December. The role of the committee under Standing Orders is to consider the Supplementary Estimates and then to report that we have done so by way of a message to the Dáil.

I thank the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Frances Fitzgerald, and her officials for attending and assisting our consideration of the Supplementary Estimates. I would also like to thank the Minister and her Department for the briefing material that has been circulated to the members of the committee. I remind members that in accordance with Standing Order 184, discussion should be confined to the items constituting the Supplementary Estimates. I must insist on this. In order to commence our address of these matters, I invite the Minister to make her opening contribution.