Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I remind members, officials and those in the Gallery to ensure their mobile phones are switched off for the duration of this meeting as they interfere with the broadcasting equipment, even when on silent mode. This meeting is for the consideration of Revised Estimates for Public Services 2018, Vote 32 - Business, Enterprise and Innovation. This was referred by the Dáil to the committee on 14 December 2017. It is an opportunity for the committee to consider the performance information regarding outputs and impacts of programme expenditure. I welcome the Minister, Deputy Humphreys; and the Ministers of State, Deputies Breen and Halligan. I also welcome their officials to the meeting and thank them for the briefing material provided, which has been circulated to members of the committee.

As members are aware, Vote 32 comprises three primary expenditure areas. These are programme A, which deals with jobs and enterprise development; programme B, which deals with innovation; and programme C, which deals with regulation. We will start with programme A and I invite the Minister, Deputy Humphreys, to make a brief statement.