Seán Fleming (Laois, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Ms Nolan is moving on. We are also joined from the Department of Finance by Mr. John McCarthy, assistant secretary, Mr. Derek Tierney, principal officer and Mr. Fiachra Quinlan, assistant principal. We are also joined by Ms Victoria Cahill from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.

I remind members, witnesses and those in the Public Gallery that all mobile phones must be switched off and not put on silent mode.

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 you are directed by the committee to cease giving evidence on a particular matter and you continue to so do, you are entitled thereafter only to a qualified privilege in respect of your evidence. You are directed that only evidence connected with the subject matter of these proceedings is to be given and you are asked to respect the parliamentary practice to the effect that, where possible, you should not criticise nor make charges against any person, persons or entity, by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable.

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

Before I call the Comptroller and Auditor General to make his opening statement, our intention is to complete this session fully this morning because in the afternoon we will be dealing with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. I ask members to keep their respective time slots of 20 minutes for the first speaker, 15 minutes and ten minute slots thereafter to ensure we complete this section of the meeting before the voting slot today.

I call on the Comptroller and Auditor General to make his opening statement.