Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I will note that. It is Athlone Institute of Technology on the list I have before me. I thank the Comptroller and Auditor General for the clarification.

In respect of the work programme, and following agreement on the priority engagements at our meeting on 7 October, the secretariat has been working to organise the engagements. We will engage with the Department of Finance tomorrow. On Wednesday, 11 November 2020 we will engage with the Office of Public Works, on Thursday, 12 November we have the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection, on Thursday, 19 November we engage with the Office of the Revenue Commissioners, and the week after that, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage has confirmed its availability for 25 and 26 November 2020.

There is a significant amount of material from the 2019 report of the Comptroller and Auditor General which is available to the committee to review. There are four chapters and the Vote itself. Given the amount of material we have to cover, and to avoid having to pick and choose between chapters, I suggest that we invite the Department to appear on Wednesday and Thursday of that week to give the committee two two-hour sessions, or four hours, to examine the matter. I suggest that we cover two chapters in each session, with the Vote itself available for discussion on both days. I also suggest that the committee has lead and second speakers on both days, with the opening statements being delivered on the first day. In other words, there will be only one set of opening statements. Are the members happy with that? Yes. It is to ensure that the material will be given a good airing in more than one session. Is it agreed that the committee invites the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage to engage with it on 25 and 26 November 2020? Agreed.

Of the seven priority engagements agreed on 7 October, that leaves meetings with the HSE, Department of Justice and the Irish Prison Service yet to be scheduled. The committee will work with secretariat to organise the other priority engagements. Is that agreed? Agreed.

Do any members wish to raise any other issues? No. Our next meeting is tomorrow with the Department of Finance on its Vote, the audited financial statements of the Exchequer for 2019, and the Comptroller and Auditor General's report on the accounts of the public services 2019. We will be looking at chapter 1, Exchequer financial outturn for 2019, and chapter 17, the Ireland Apple escrow fund.