Chairman:

The first item for consideration is the Revised Estimates for Public Services 2020 for programme A of Vote 29, relating to the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications. The Dáil ordered that the Revised Estimates for Public Services in respect of the following Votes be referred to this select committee, namely, Vote 31 - Transport; and programme A of Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications. As members are aware, the committee previously considered Vote 31 with the Minister of State, Deputy Naughton, and today's meeting will only consider programme A of Vote 29. I remind members that the committee has no role in actually approving the Estimates. It is an ongoing opportunity for the committee to examine departmental expenditure, to make the process more transparent and to engage in a meaningful way on relevant performance issues.

I welcome the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications, Deputy Eamon Ryan, and his officials to the meeting. Members are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that they should not comment or criticise or make charges against a person outside of the House or an official, either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable. I now invite the Minister to make his opening statement.