Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

As we have a quorum, we will commence the meeting. We are now in public session. Apologies have been received from Deputy Catherine Murphy. Members are reminded to turn off their mobile phones completely, as they might interfere with the recording equipment. This meeting has been convened to consider the Supplementary Estimate for Vote 31 - Transport, Tourism and Sport, which was referred by the Dáil to the committee on 19 November with an instruction to report back to the Dáil no later than 12 December. I welcome the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Ross and his officials. The format for today's meeting is that the Minister will make a brief statement, after which members may ask nice questions of him, which I am sure he will be delighted to answer. Is that agreed? Agreed. I invite the Minister to make his statement.