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

I will pop out in 20 minutes so the Vice Chairman, Deputy Catherine Murphy, will take over. The Comptroller and Auditor General, Mr. Seamus McCarthy, is a permanent witness to the committee. I ask that members and all those in attendance to exercise personal responsibility in protecting themselves and others from the risk of Covid-19, particularly during the current surge. They are strongly advised to leave at least one vacant seat between them and others attending and to use the sanitisers provided. They should always maintain appropriate social distance before, during and after the meeting and wear masks at all times, except when speaking. Members participating remotely must continue to do so from within the precincts of Leinster House. This is due to the constitutional requirement that in order to participate in public meetings, members must be physically present within the confines of the place where Parliament has chosen to sit.

This morning, we will engage with officials from the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media to examine the 2020 appropriation account, Vote 33 - Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media; and, from the 2020 report of the Comptroller and Auditor General on the accounts of the public services, chapter 7 - oversight of funding for the European Capital of Culture 2020 or Galway 2020, as it is referred to. We are joined remotely from outside the precincts of Leinster House by a number of officials from the Department, which reflects the scope of the its responsibility. In attendance are Ms Katherine Licken, Secretary General; Mr. Cian Ó Lionáin, assistant secretary, tourism and sport division; Mr. Conor Falvey, assistant secretary, culture division; Ms. Patricia Murphy, assistant secretary, corporate affairs; Ms Tríona Quill, assistant secretary, broadcasting and media division; Mr. Aodhán Mac Cormaic, Stiúrthóir na Gaeilge; Ms Tania Banotti, director of Creative Ireland; and Mr. Joe Healy, principal officer, head of finance and IT. We are also joined by remotely from outside the precincts of Leinster House by Mr. Brian O'Malley, principal officer in the relevant Vote section at the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.

I ask members and witnesses to mute themselves when not contributing so that we do not pick up background noise or feedback. I remind all those attending to ensure their mobile phones are on silent mode or switched off. Before we start, I wish to explain some limitations to parliamentary privilege, and the practice of the Houses as regards references speakers may make to other persons in their evidence. The evidence of witnesses who are physically present or who give evidence from within the parliamentary precinct is protected pursuant to the constitutional statute by absolute privilege. However, today's witnesses are giving their evidence remotely from a place outside the precincts and as such, may not benefit from the same level of immunity from legal proceedings as a witness who is present. Such witnesses have already been advised that they may think it appropriate to take legal advice on this matter.

Members are reminded of the provisions under 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 that they should not comment, 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. To assist the broadcasting unit and the Debates Office, I ask members to direct their questions to a specific witness. If the question is not being directed to a specific witness, I ask that each witness to state his or her name the first time he or she contributes.

I call on the Comptroller and Auditor General to make his opening statement.