Kathleen Funchion (Carlow-Kilkenny, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Members 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.

We do not have any apologies today.

I welcome the Minister for Children, Disability, Equality and Integration, Deputy Roderic O'Gorman, and his officials here today. The officials present are Dr. Fergal Lynch, Secretary General of the Department, who is seated 2 m from the Minister, Mr. Dermot Ryan, assistant secretary general, and Mr. Conor Rowley, assistant secretary general. They are both seated in the Public Gallery. They are all very welcome.

On my own behalf and that of members of the select committee, I congratulate the Minister on his appointment. While his appointment to the position was a number of months ago, this is our first opportunity to have him present at the committee and to meet with him. We look forward to working closely with him over the lifetime of this committee. Hopefully we can work effectively and safely during these testing times.

As members are aware, we are meeting this afternoon to continue the Revised Estimate for Vote 40 on children and youth affairs, referred to the committee by Dáil Éireann on 30 September 2020. In accordance with Standing Orders, discussion should be confined to the items constituting the Revised Estimates. I invite the Minister to make his opening statement, which will be followed by a questions and answers session with members.