Seán Fleming (Laois, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

We are dealing with the 2015 Appropriation Accounts for the Department of Justice and Equality, Vote 24 and Chapter 6 of the Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General. From the Department of Justice and Equality, we are joined by Mr. Noel Waters, Secretary General, Ms Oonagh McPhillips, Mr. Jimmy Martin, Mr. John O'Callaghan, Mr. Seamus Clifford, Mr. Ben Ryan, Mr. Eugene Banks and Ms Bernadette Phelan. We are also joined by the Comptroller and Auditor General, Mr. Seamus McCarthy. From the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, we are joined by Mr. John Burke.

I remind members, witnesses and those in the Public Gallery to turn off their mobile phones.

I wish to advise the witnesses that by virtue of section 17(2)(l) of the Defamation Act 2009, witnesses are protected by absolute privilege in respect of their evidence to this committee. If they are directed by the committee to cease giving evidence on a particular matter and they continue to so do, they are entitled thereafter only to a qualified privilege in respect of that evidence. They are directed that only evidence connected with the subject matter of these proceedings is to be given and they are asked to respect the parliamentary practice to the effect that, where possible, they should not criticise or make charges against any person, persons or entity either by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable.

Members of the committee are reminded of the provisions of Standing Order 186 to the effect that the committee shall 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. Finally, members are reminded of the long-standing ruling of the Chair to the effect that they should not comment on, criticise or make charges against a person outside the House or an official by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.

Before I call the Comptroller and Auditor General, for the information of members of the public, I will immediately suspend the meeting following the opening statements because there is a joint sitting of the Houses of the Oireachtas to hear a statement from Mr. Michel Barnier. We will resume at 2 p.m. I will take the opening statements only.