Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I remind members to ensure their mobile phones are switched off. This is important because it can cause serious problems for broadcasting, editorial and sound staff. For the purposes of the Official Report, I have been requested to identify members when they are called to speak. Members are requested to remove their face coverings when speaking to ensure their contributions are recorded adequately before replacing their face coverings.

I welcome to our meeting this morning members and viewers who may be watching the proceedings on Oireachtas TV. Members are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that members 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, her or it identifiable. I remind members of the constitutional requirement that members must be physically present within the confines of the place which Parliament has chosen to sit, namely, Leinster House, to participate in public meetings. I will not permit a member to participate where they are not adhering to this constitutional requirement. Therefore, any member who attempts to participate from outside the precincts will be asked to leave the meeting.

The Dáil has ordered that the Revised Estimates for the public services in respect of the following Vote be referred to this select committee for consideration: Vote 37 - Social Protection. On behalf of the select committee, I welcome the Minister for Social Protection and for Rural and Community Development, Deputy Heather Humphreys, an tAire Stáit, Deputy Joe O'Brien, and their officials to this meeting. Members have received the briefing documentation provided by the Department and supplementary briefings from the secretariat, which have been circulated in advance.

The purpose of today's meeting is to consider the Revised Estimate and the performance information regarding the outputs and impacts of the programme expenditure. The programme-based structure of the Estimates should allow the committee to focus on what the Department has committed to achieving in terms of actual outputs and outcomes, to consider whether the performance targets included in the Estimate are a sufficiently complete description of the services provided by the Department, whether those targets strike the right balance in terms of the needs of our society, whether the information provided by the Department makes clear how the moneys available are allocated between services, and whether these allocations are the most appropriate in the circumstances. The gross allocation for Vote 37 in 2022 will now be €23.35 billion. The Further Revised Estimate for 2022, published in December 2021, shows a reduction of €6.9 billion on the 2021 provision outturn, which was €30.3 billion.

I now call the Minister, Deputy Humphreys, to make her opening statement.