Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Members are requested to ensure that for the duration of the meeting their mobile phones are turned off completely or switched to aeroplane, safe or flight mode, depending on their device. It is not sufficient for members just to put their phones on silent mode because this will maintain a level of interference with the broadcasting system.

This meeting has been convened to consider the Supplementary Estimate for Vote 31 - Transport, Tourism and Sport, which was referred by the Dáil to the committee on 22 November with an instruction to report back to the Dáil no later than 6 December. On behalf of the committee, I welcome the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Ross, to speak on the Supplementary Estimate. I also welcome the officials from the Department to the meeting and thank them for the briefing material, which has been circulated. As for the format of today's meeting, the Minister will make a brief address, after which members who wish to speak may indicate and may then contribute. Then we can consider the Supplementary Estimate in more detail. Is that agreed? Agreed. I remind members that in accordance with Standing Orders, discussion should be confined to the items constituting the Supplementary Estimate. I now invite the Minister to make his address.