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

Apologies have been received from Deputy Daly, who will be substituted by Deputy Martin Kenny. The Chairman has been unavoidably delayed and has asked me to chair the meeting in his stead, which I hope is agreeable to members. This meeting has been 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 for Justice, Deputy McEntee, and her officials for attending and assisting us in our consideration of the Revised Estimates. We are grateful for their provision of information related to these Estimates. I will invite the Minister to make a brief opening statement, after which I will invite members to make a contribution. As per normal proceedings, we will consider each Vote before moving on to the next one and refer to the relevant subheads which make up the Revised Estimates. We can then have some brief closing remarks on each Vote, if necessary. I remind members that, in accordance with Standing Orders, our discussions should be confined to the items contained within the Revised Estimates. I also remind members 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 a way to make him or her identifiable.

I now invite the Minister to make her opening statement.