Seán Fleming (Laois, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

We resume our discussion of the Comptroller and Auditor General's Report on the Accounts of the Public Services 2018, chapter 9, which deals with greenhouse gas-related financial transactions and matters relating to carbon tax. We have already had a meeting with the Central Statistics Office and the Economic and Social Research Institute on this topic. They have carried out some related research which was discussed by the committee and we are very grateful to both organisations for that research and for making themselves available to the committee.

We are joined by the Comptroller and Auditor General, Mr. Seamus McCarthy, as a permanent witness to the committee and he is joined this afternoon by Mr. Ciaran Crowe, senior auditor. From the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment we are joined by Mr. Brian Carroll, assistant secretary, Mr. Frank Maughan, principal officer, Mr. Eamonn Confrey, principal officer, and Ms Catherine McGinty, assistant principal. I remind members, witnesses and those in the Public Gallery that all mobile phones must be switched off. That means having them on airplane mode, as merely putting them on silent mode can interfere with the recording system.

I advise the witnesses 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 this committee. If they are directed by the committee to cease giving evidence in relation to 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 nor make charges against any person, persons or entity, by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable.

While we expect witnesses to answer questions asked by the committee clearly and with candour, witnesses can and should expect to be treated fairly and with respect and consideration at all times, in accordance with the witness protocol. I invite Mr. McCarthy to make his opening statement.