Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I ask members to ensure their mobile telephones are switched off for the duration of the meeting as they interfere with the broadcasting equipment, even when on silent mode. The purpose of today's meeting is to consider the further Revised Estimates for 2017 for the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation, referred by the Dáil to this committee on 17 October. We have received apologies from Deputies Quinlivan, Niall Collins and Donnelly.

I welcome the Minister of State with responsibility for trade, employment, business, the EU digital single market and data protection, Deputy Pat Breen, and his officials. I thank them for the briefing material provided to the committee.

Members are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that they should not comment on, criticise or make charges against either 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 the Minister of State to make a presentation to the committee.