Chairman:

I remind members and the officials that if they have mobile phones, they should either switch them off or leave them in flight mode. Not alone do they interfere with the transmission of the meeting but the recording is also interfered with.

The meeting was convened to consider the Further Revised Estimate for Vote 37 - Employment Affairs and Social Protection - which was referred by the Dáil to the select committee with an instruction to report back to it. I thank the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection, Deputy Regina Doherty, and her officials for attending and the briefing material which has been circulated to members. I invite the Minister to make an opening statement. Colleagues will then have a number of questions to put to her.