Mairéad Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Members are reminded of the provisions within Standing Order 218 that the committee shall refrain from inquiring into the merits of a policy or policies of the Government or a Minister of the Government, or the merits of the objectives of such policies. Members are also reminded 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 such a way as to make him or her identifiable.

The public business before us this morning is as follows: minutes; accounts and statements; correspondence; work programme; and any other business. The first item of business is the minutes of our meetings of 24 October and 31 October. The minutes have been circulated to members. Do members wish to raise any matters in respect of the minutes? Are the minutes agreed? Agreed. As usual, the minutes will be published on the committee's web page.

Six sets of accounts and financial statements were laid between 21 October and 1 November 2024. I will ask the Comptroller and Auditor General, Mr. Seamus McCarthy, to address them before opening the floor to members.