James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

This meeting has been convened to consider the Supplementary Estimates for Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána, Vote 21 - Prisons, Vote 22 - Courts Service, and the Further Revised Estimate for Vote 24 - Justice. I thank the Minister, Deputy McEntee, and her officials for attending and assisting our consideration of the Estimates. I thank the Department for the provision of briefing information on the Estimates.

In accordance with Standing Orders, the discussion should be confined to the items constituting the Estimates, so keep within the subheads, within the ditches, as they say.

I remind members 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. The usual provisions apply.

I ask the Minister to begin and then we will drill into different Votes and take questions on subheads.