Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Apologies have been received from Deputies Cannon and Mattie McGrath. This meeting has been convened to consider the Supplementary Estimate for Vote 33 - Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, which was referred to this committee by Dáil Éireann. I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Jack Chambers, and his officials to the meeting. They are joining the meeting remotely from committee room 1 via Microsoft Teams. As the Minister of State is present, officials should not speak in public session. The opening statement and other documents submitted to the committee may be published on the committee website after this meeting.

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 or an official by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable. In most instances Oireachtas Members and witnesses may now be physically present in the committee room, or they may join remotely via Microsoft Teams. I remind members of the constitutional requirement that members must be physically present within the confines of Leinster House to participate in public meetings. I will not permit members to attend where they are not adhering to this constitutional requirement. Therefore, members who attempts to attend from outside the precincts will be asked to leave the meeting.

I ask members to please identify themselves when contributing for the benefit of Debates Office staff preparing the Official Report. Members should mute their microphones when not contributing to reduce background noise and feedback. I ask that they use the raise hand button when they wish to contribute because we do not have a speaking rota for this. If there is something about which they have a particular interest, they can indicate to me and I will take them in that order. I remind all those present to switched off their mobile phones.

I now ask the Minister of State to make his presentation.