Mairéad Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein)

No apologies have been received. I advise members of the constitutional requirement that members must be physically present within the confines of 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. Therefore, a member who attempts to participate from outside the precincts will be asked to leave the meeting. In this regard, I ask any member partaking via Microsoft Teams to confirm that he or she is on the grounds of the Leinster House campus prior to making his or her contribution to the meeting.

Members 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 members' statements are potentially defamatory in respect of an identifiable person or entity, they will be directed to discontinue their remarks. It is imperative they comply with any such direction.

The Select Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure, Public Service Reform, Digitalisation and Taoiseach is meeting today to consider the Revised Estimates, Vote 13 - Office of Public Works. The Revised Estimates Volume, REV, for public services provides considerably more detail at subhead level, as well as performance metrics. Revised Estimates are the revised final proposed spending for the next year and form the basis for parliamentary scrutiny of allocated expenditure. I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Moran, and his officials from the Office of Public Works to today's meeting. It is his first time coming before our committee. I invite the Minister of State to make his opening statement.