Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I remind members to ensure their mobile phones are switched off for the duration of the meeting as they interfere with the broadcasting equipment, even when in silent mode. The purpose of today's meeting is to consider the Supplementary Estimate for the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation for 2017, referred by the Dáil to this committee on 21 November with an instruction to report back to the Dáil not later than 6 December, which is today.

I welcome the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation, Deputy Heather Humphreys, and her officials to the meeting and thank them for the briefing material provided to the committee. I propose the following arrangements. The Minister will make a brief address to the committee, after which we can consider the subheads relevant to the Supplementary Estimate. Is that agreed? Agreed.

I remind members that in accordance with Standing Order 184, discussion should be confined to the items constituting the Supplementary Estimates. I ask members to indicate the subhead to which they are referring, if possible. Members are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice 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.

I draw the attention of 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.

I now call the Minister to make her opening statement.