Neasa Hourigan (Dublin Central, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

This meeting will consist of engagement with officials from the Departments of Finance and of Public Expenditure and Reform. We will discuss cost-of-living measures, including the expected impacts of those measures and analysis undertaken in advance of implementation of any policy changes on budgetary costs. From the Department of Finance I welcome Mr. Brendan O'Connor, principal officer and head of macroeconomic analysis, Mr. Joe Cullen, principal officer and Mr. Cathal Sheridan, principal officer.

From the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, I welcome Mr. John Kinnane, acting assistant secretary from the expenditure policy unit, and Ms Niamh Callaghan, principal officer in the budget strategy and co-ordination unit. I thank the witnesses for attending.

I call Mr. O'Connor to make his opening statement.