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 and recording equipment, even when left in silent mode.

The purpose of the meeting is to consider the Supplementary Estimate for Vote 32 for the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation which was referred by the Dáil to the committee on 21 November with an instruction to report back to it not later than 12 December. I welcome the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation, Deputy Humphreys, and her officials and thank them for the briefing material provided for the committee. I propose that the Minister make a brief address to the committee and that we then consider the relevant subheads in the Supplementary Estimate. Is that agreed? Agreed. When contributing I ask members to indicate the subhead to which they wish to refer and the relevant page in the Department's briefing material, if possible. They 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 call on the Minister to make her opening statement.