Brian Leddin (Limerick City, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

This meeting has been convened to consider the Revised Estimate for Vote 29, excluding programme A - communications, which comes under the remit of the Select Committee on Transport and Communications Networks and which will be considered by that committee.

I welcome the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Deputy Eamon Ryan. The proposed format of today's meeting is to deal with Vote 29 on a programme-by-programme basis. At the outset the Minister will make his opening statement. We will then consider each of the five programmes separately, with questions from members of the committee.

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 of the Houses or an official either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable. I remind members that they are only able to participate in this meeting if they are physically present on the Leinster House campus. I ask that each member, prior to making his or her contribution to the meeting, will confirm his or her presence on the grounds of the Leinster House campus.

I invite the Minister to make his opening statement.