Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

As we have a quorum, we will proceed. Deputy Lisa Chambers is substituting for Deputy Darragh O'Brien and Deputy Crowe sends his apologies. On 15 December 2016, the Dáil ordered that the Revised Estimates for Public Services in respect of the following Votes be referred to this committee for consideration - Vote 35, Army Pensions and Vote 36, Defence. In the first part of today's meeting the select committee will consider these Estimates and report back to the Dáil. I welcome the Minister of State with special responsibility for defence, Deputy Paul Kehoe, and officials from the Department. I thank them for the briefing material provided. The proposed format is that we will hear opening remarks from the Minister of State before we proceed to consider the Votes. At the outset of our consideration of each of the programmes, the Minister of State may give an overview of the programme including detailing any pressures likely to impact on his Department's performance or expenditure. We will then open the meeting to the floor for questions from members.

I remind members and those in the Public Gallery that mobile phones should be switched off completely for the duration of the meeting as they may cause interference, even when in silent mode, with the recording equipment. I also remind members of the longstanding parliamentary practice to the effect that they should not comment on, criticise or make charges against a person or body outside the Houses or an official either by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable. I call on the Minister to make brief opening remarks on overall Department expenditure before proceeding to Votes 35 and 36.