Maurice Quinlivan (Limerick City, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

If members are participating in the meeting remotely, they are required to do so from within the Leinster House complex. No apologies have been received.

Today, the select committee is required to consider the Revised Estimates for the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment for 2024. I welcome the Minister, Deputy Coveney, and his officials to the meeting. We appreciate the comprehensive briefing material provided by his Department on this matter. That material has been circulated to members.

As we normally do before starting, I wish to explain some limitations to parliamentary privilege and the practices of the Houses as regards references that may be made to another person in evidence. The evidence of witnesses physically present or who give evidence from within the parliamentary precincts is protected, pursuant to the Constitution and statute, by absolute privilege. 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 witnesses' statements are potentially defamatory in respect of an identifiable person or entity, they will be directed by me to discontinue their remarks. It is imperative they comply with any such direction.

I invite the Minister to make his opening comments on the Revised Estimate.