Alan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Apologies have been received from the Chair, Deputy Lawless. He has asked me to chair the meeting in his place with the agreement of the committee. Is that agreed? Agreed.

The meeting is being convened to consider the Revised Estimates for Vote 20 - An Garda Síochána, Vote 21 - Prisons, Vote 22 - Courts Service, Vote 24 - Justice, Vote 41 - Policing Authority and Vote 44 - Data Protection Commission. I thank the Minister and his officials for attending and assisting in our consideration of the Revised Estimates. I thank them for the provision of the information related to them. I propose that the Minister make some brief opening remarks, after which I will invite members to make a contribution. As is the normal committee procedure, the format of the meeting is that we will consider each Vote in order to move onto the next one and refer to the subhead which makes up the Revised Estimates. We can then have a brief closing remarks at the end of that consideration. Is that agreed? Agreed.

I remind members that in accordance with Standing Orders, discussions shall be confined to items constituting the Revised Estimates. I also remind members of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that they should not criticise or make charges against any person outside of the House or any official by name or in such a way as to make him or identifiable. I invite the Minister to make his opening remarks.