Lisa Chambers (Mayo, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Secretaries General, Mr. Derek Moran and Mr. Robert Watt, and their officials. Today's agenda involves the overall fiscal position based on first quarter returns; a briefing on the first quarter outturn of receipts and expenditure; engagement between the committee and the Departments; the information requirements of the committee and the parliamentary budget office; and an overview of expenditure drivers and the risks to the fiscal position for 2017 to 2021. Before we begin, I remind members and delegates to turn off their mobile phones as they interfere with the sound quality of the transmission of the proceedings.

By virtue of section 17(2)(l) of the Defamation Act 2009, witnesses are protected by absolute privilege in respect of their evidence to the committee. However, if they are directed by it 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 any person or an entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable.

Members are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that they should not comment on, criticise or make charges against a person outside the Houses or an official, either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.

I invite Mr. Moran to make his opening statement.