Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Apologies have been received from the Chairman, Deputy John McGuinness. I have been asked to remind members that their mobile phones should be switched off, and I hope mine is. This is important because it causes serious interference with broadcasting. For the purposes of the Official Report, I have been asked to identify members when they are called to speak.

I welcome members and viewers who may be watching our proceedings on Oireachtas TV to the public session of the Oireachtas Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach. 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 the Houses of the Oireachtas or an official either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable. I also remind members of the constitutional requirements that the members must be physically present within the confines of the place in which Parliament has chosen to sit, namely, Leinster House in this case or the convention centre, as may be, in order to participate in public meetings. I will not permit a member to participate where he or she is not adhering to this constitutional requirement. Therefore, any member who attempts to participate from outside the precincts will be asked to leave the meeting. Members are asked to confirm that they are present within the parliamentary precincts. Are all members present with the precincts? They are.

Due to Covid-19 restrictions, the meeting must conclude within two hours. I hope it will not take that long because there are few amendments to consider. On behalf of the select committee, I welcome the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Deputy Michael McGrath, and his officials. In attendance with the Minister is Mr. Andrew Condon of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.

To provide for the smooth running of the meeting, any member acting in substitution for a member of the committee should formally notify the clerk now if they have not already done so. Divisions may be taken as they arise. Members must attend in person in the committee meeting room for divisions, although they can attend the meeting remotely.

Members attending this committee, in accordance with Standing Order 106(3), should be aware that, pursuant to that Standing Order, they may move an amendment but cannot participate in voting on that amendment.

I now invite the Minister to make his opening remarks. There is a technological hitch that we are trying to resolve. Technicians are being called in from all over the globe in order to address the issue. Unless we can hear each other, we cannot proceed. I will suspend for two minutes, in the hope that the light of technology will shine on us and we will be released from this restriction as soon as possible.