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

Apologies have been received from Deputies Catherine Murphy and Carroll McNeill.

If attending in the committee room, people are asked to exercise personal responsibility to protect themselves and others from the risk of contracting Covid-19. Members of the committee attending 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.

The Comptroller and Auditor General, Mr. Seamus McCarthy, sends his apologies. He is represented today by Mr. Andy Harkness, director of audit, who is accompanied by Mr. Mark Brady, deputy director of audit at the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General.

This morning, we will engage with the following officials from Rasaíocht Con Éireann, Greyhound Racing Ireland, to examine its financial statements for 2021. We are joined by Mr. John Tuohey, interim CEO and chief financial officer, Mr. Frank Nyhan, chairman, Mr. William Fitzgerald, veterinary director, and Mr. Patrick Herbert, director of regulation. We are also joined by the following officials from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Mr. Gordon Conroy, assistant secretary general; Ms Caroline Ball, principal officer; and Ms Louise McAlavey, assistant principal officer. All of our guests are very welcome. I remind all those in attendance to ensure that 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 the reference witnesses may make to other persons in their evidence. Witnesses within the precincts of Leinster House are protected by absolute privilege in respect of the presentation they make to the committee. This means that they have an absolute defence against any defamation action for anything they say at the meeting. However, they are expected not to abuse this privilege and it is my duty as Cathaoirleach to ensure that this privilege is not abused. Therefore, if their statements are potentially defamatory in relation to an identifiable person or entity, they will be directed to discontinue their remarks. It is imperative that they comply with any such direction.

Members are reminded of the provisions within Standing Order 218 to the effect 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 to the effect that they 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 or her identifiable.

I now call on Mr. Harkness to make his opening statement.