Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Deputy Eamon Ryan. It is lovely to see a young member of his family here today. I welcome the young man who has joined us in the room. I also welcome his officials.

No. 1 is consideration of 2023 Supplementary Estimates. The purpose of our meeting is to consider the Supplementary Estimate for public services, Vote 29 – Environment, Climate and Communications. I remind members that the committee has no role in actually approving the Estimates; rather, it is an ongoing opportunity for the committee to examine departmental expenditure to make the process more transparent and engage in a meaningful way on relevant performance issues.

I thank departmental officials for the briefing note provided. In the briefing note, they gave an explanation of the other programmes within Vote 29. This is for informational purposes only. I remind members that the select committee will only have within its limit considerations to changes in subhead D.

Witnesses are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice that they should not criticise or make charges against any person or entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable or otherwise engage in speech that might be regarded as damaging to the good name of the person or entity. Therefore, if their statements are potentially defamatory in respect of 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 long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that they should not comment on, criticise or make charges against a person outside of the Houses or an official either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.

For anyone watching this meeting, Oireachtas members and witnesses now have the option of being physically present in the committee room to join the meeting of the committee remotely via MS Teams. I remind members of the constitutional requirement that they must be physically present within the confines of the Leinster House complex in order to participate in public meetings. I will not permit a member to participate where he or she is not adhering to this constitutional requirement. Therefore, any member who attempts to participate from outside the precincts will be asked to leave the meeting. In this regard, I ask any member participating via MS Teams to confirm prior to contributing to the meeting that he or she is on the grounds of the Leinster House campus.

I call the Minister to make his opening statement.