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

We have a quorum and the committee is now in public session. Apologies have been received from Deputy Sean Sherlock. I welcome everyone to our online meeting. Due to the current situation with Covid-19 only the clerk, support staff and I are in the committee room. Members of the committee are attending remotely from within the precincts of Leinster House. The Comptroller and Auditor General, Mr. Seamus McCarthy, is a permanent witness to the committee and he is also attending remotely.

Today we engage with officials from the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications to examine the 2019 appropriation accounts for Vote 29 - Communications, Climate Action and Environment. To assist us, we are joined remotely from within the precincts of Leinster House by the following officials from the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications: Mr. Mark Griffin, Secretary General, Mr. Ciarán Ó hÓbáin, assistant secretary for communications and Ms Lisa Keyes, principal officer. From the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform I welcome Mr. Brendan Ellison, communications, climate action and environment Vote section. We are also joined remotely from outside the precincts of Leinster House by the following officials from the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications: Mr. Philip Nugent, assistant secretary for waste and natural resources, Mr. Robert Deegan, principal officer, Mr. Frank Maughan, principal officer and Mr. Fergal Mulligan, national broadband plan programme manager. I welcome them all to the meeting and thank them for the briefing material they have prepared for the committee and for appearing before us. We changed the date at short notice and today is a different date from when we intended to have the meeting.

When we begin to engage I ask members and witnesses to mute themselves when not contributing so we do not pick up any background noise or feedback. I ask that people use the button on their laptop or desktop to raise their hand when they wish to contribute. People can remove their masks when speaking so we can hear them more clearly. As usual, I remind all those in attendance to ensure their mobile phones are on silent or switched off.

I also want to explain some limitation with regard to parliamentary privilege and the practices of the Houses with regard to references made by the witnesses to other persons in their evidence. The evidence of witnesses physically present or who give evidence from within the precincts of the Houses of the Oireachtas is protected pursuant to the Constitution and statute by absolute privilege. However, a number of today's witnesses are giving evidence remotely from places outside the parliamentary precincts. As such, they may not benefit from the same level of immunity from legal proceedings as witnesses physically present on campus. Such witnesses have already been advised and they may think it appropriate to take legal advice on this matter.

Witnesses are also reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice that they should not criticise or make charges against any person or entity either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable, or otherwise engage in speech that might be regarded as damaging to the good name of a person or entity. Therefore, if their statements are potentially defamatory in relation to an identifiable person or entity witnesses will be directed to discontinue their remarks. It is imperative that they comply with any such direction.

Members are reminded of the provisions within Standing Order 218 that the committee shall refrain from inquiring into the merits of a policy or policies of the Government or a Minister of the Government or the merits of the objectives of such policies. Members are also 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 Houses or an official either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.

To assist the broadcasting service and the Debates Office, I ask that members, where possible, direct their questions to a specific witness because it will be a bit more difficult today. If a witness has not been referred to, I ask that the witness would state his or her name before responding.

I now invite the Comptroller and Auditor General, Mr. Seamus McCarthy, to make his opening statement.