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

We have not received any apologies. Members participating remotely are reminded of the requirement to do so from within the precincts of the Leinster House complex. I ask members and witnesses to please turn off their mobile phones or ensure they are in silent mode. I ask members of the committee who are participating remotely to use the raise-hand icon on Microsoft Teams if they wish to contribute.

I welcome the Minister, Deputy Humphreys, and Minister of State, Deputy Joe O'Brien, and their officials to the meeting to discussion the Revised Estimates for Votes 37 and 42. While the committee has no role in approving the Estimates, it is an ongoing opportunity for it to examine departmental expenditure, make the overall budgetary process more transparent and engage meaningfully on relevant performance-related issues.

In the first session we will consider the Revised Estimate for Vote 37 – social protection, which was presented to Dáil Éireann on 14 December 2022.

I call on the Minister to give some brief opening remarks.