Joe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I remind members to turn off their mobile phones as they interfere with the sound system. This is our second mid-year review meeting with the Department of Rural and Community Development. This is a new committee that shadows a new Department.

We hope to follow the roadmap set out in the 2016 OECD report, Review of Budget Oversight by Parliament: Ireland. The committee will consider the Department's appropriation accounts for 2018, the current position in 2019, and the outlook for 2020 and beyond. The committee is also interested in considering the link between expenditure and performance following international best practice.

I propose that the following arrangements will apply regarding our mid-year review of Vote 42 - Rural and Community Development. The Minister may make a brief opening statement as follows: consideration of programme B - community development; consideration of programme A - rural development; consideration of programme C - charities regulator; consideration of programme D - appropriations-in-aid; consideration of the appropriation accounts 2018; and the outlook for 2020 and future years. Then, if not covered in the discussion of the relevant subhead, we will have agency statements from Irish Water Safety, IWS, and the Western Development Commission, WDC.

The committee will adjourn not later than 1.15 p.m. If any other matter is not covered, members can submit a written request for the information, through the clerk to the committee, which will be passed on to the Minister for reply. Is that agreed? Agreed.

I welcome the Minister for Rural and Community Development, Deputy Michael Ring. Deputy Seán Canney, the Minister of State at the Departments of Rural and Community Development and Communications, Climate Action and Environment, who has special responsibility for natural resources, community affairs and digital development, will join us later as he has been delayed due to this meeting clashing with Oral Questions in the Dáil. Finally, I welcome the officials from the Department of Rural and Community Development who are accompanying the Minister and Minister of State - Ms Sheenagh Rooney, assistant secretary; Mr. Kenneth Jordan, principal officer, finance unit; Mr. Brendan Mahon, assistant principal officer; and Mr. David O'Connor, assistant principal officer.

The opening statement and briefing documents have been circulated to the committee. I propose that all documents supplied to the committee in respect of this meeting be published on its website. Is that agreed? Agreed.

Before detailed consideration of the Vote commences, I invite the Minister and the Minister of State to make briefing opening statements on Vote 42.