Seán Fleming (Laois, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome Mr. Mark Griffin, Secretary General of the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment. He is joined by Mr. Matt Collins, assistant secretary, and Ms Finola Rossi and Ms Rebecca Minch, principal officers. They are also joined by Ms Mary Austin from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. I remind members, witnesses and those in the Public Gallery to turn off mobile phones. It is not enough to put them on silent, they must be put on airplane mode, as it interferes with the recordings.

I wish to advise witnesses to the fact 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 the committee. However, 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 their 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 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 that the committee shall also refrain from inquiring into merits of a policy or policies of the Government or a Minister of the Government or the merits of the objectives of such policies.

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