Kathleen Funchion (Carlow-Kilkenny, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Apologies have been received from Deputies Brady, for whom Deputy Mairéad Farrell is substituting, and Sherlock. Everybody is welcome to the meeting. The committee will consider the Revised Estimates for Public Services for Vote 40 - Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, and Vote 25 - the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, for 2024, as referred by the Dáil. We will consider these Estimates and report back to the Dáil. I remind members that only matters relevant to the Revised Estimates can be discussed.

On behalf of our committee, I welcome the Minister, Deputy O'Gorman, the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, and their officials and thank them for the briefing material that was provided. The material was circulated to all members in advance of the meeting. The Minister and the Minister of State are accompanied by the following officials: Mr. Dermot Ryan, assistant secretary, Ms Anne-Marie Brooks, assistant secretary, Mr. Colm Ó Conaill, assistant secretary, and Mr. David Delaney, assistant secretary.

I remind members of the constitutional requirement that they must be physically present within the confines of the place in which Parliament has chosen to sit, namely, the Leinster House complex, to participate in public meetings. I will not permit a member to participate where he or she is not adhering to this constitutional requirement. Any member who attempts to participate at the meeting from outside the precincts will be refused.

On parliamentary privilege, I remind the Minister and the Minister of State in advance of the delivery of their opening statements 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 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 relation to an identifiable person or entity, they will be directed to discontinue the remarks and it is imperative that they comply with any such direction.

I invite the Minister to deliver his opening statement.