Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)

I have no apologies from any of our colleagues.

Today's meeting concerns matters relating to the termination of the Arts Council grant management IT system. The meeting has been convened with the chair of the board of the Arts Council and relevant members of the executive team alongside relevant officials from the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport to discuss matters relating to the termination of the Arts Council grant management IT system. I warmly welcome the following witnesses: Ms Maura McGrath, chair of the board; Ms Maureen Kennelly, director; Mr. Poly Anyanwu, business transformation programme director; and Mr. Martin O'Sullivan, deputy director, finance director and company secretary, Arts Council; and Mr. Feargal Ó Coigligh, Secretary General; Mr. Conor Falvey, assistant secretary; Mr. John Kelly, principal officer; and Ms Sinéad O'Hara, principal officer, Department of Culture, Communications and Sport, and notably no longer arts.

The format of the meeting is that I will invite our witnesses to deliver an opening statement which is limited to five minutes. That will then be followed by questions from members of the committee. As the witnesses are probably aware, the committee may publish the opening statements online. Is that agreed, colleagues? Agreed.

Before I proceed to questions from the members, I remind them that while the committee has received correspondence from and concerning individuals and other organisations and companies in advance of this engagement regarding some of the items that have been flagged for discussion, the names of individuals or identifiable entities or any personal information relating to them should not be discussed publicly in today's session.

I also wish to clarify some limitations relating to parliamentary privilege and the practice of the Houses as regards references witnesses may make to other persons in their evidence. The evidence of witnesses physically present or who give evidence from within the parliamentary precincts is protected pursuant to both the Constitution and statute by absolute privilege in respect of the presentation they make to the committee. This means that they have an absolute defence against any defamation action for anything they say at this meeting. However, they are expected not to abuse this privilege, and it is my duty as Chair to ensure that this privilege is not abused. 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 the Houses or an official either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.

I now ask for the opening statements in the following order: Mr. Feargal Ó Coigligh on behalf of the Department and then a joint statement from Ms Maura McGrath, chair of the board of the Arts Council, and its director, Ms Maureen Kennelly. Then we will proceed to questions and answers with members. Depending on how many members are here, we will start off with six minutes, but if more members do not arrive we may push that out to eight to ten minutes. Before I ask the witnesses to make their opening statements, I am due in the Dáil Chamber for a few minutes so I will ask Senator Ní Chuilinn to take over from me in the Chair for the next while. This is your first time taking over as Vice Chair, Senator, so congratulations.