Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The meeting has been convened to consider the Supplementary Estimate for Vote 31, Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport. I remind members that the Estimates are supplementary, rather than the totality. As we are in public session, I request that all mobile phones would be switched off, as distinct from being put on silent mode.

I thank the Minister, Deputy Ross and his officials for attending and assisting in our consideration of the Supplementary Estimates for 2016. I remind members that we are only considering the Supplementary Estimates and that while members may discuss issues relevant to the individual subheads they may not recommend increases or decreases in the Supplementary Estimates. There are no votes. I invite the Minister to make his opening statement.