John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)

We will engage with the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission to discuss its 2024 appropriation accounts. We are joined by the following officials from the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission: Mr. Peter Finnegan, Clerk of the Dáil and Secretary General and Accounting Officer of the Houses of the Oireachtas Service; Mr. Michael Errity, deputy secretary general; Ms Annette Connolly, assistant secretary, director of parliamentary information and research services; Mr. Ciarán Doyle, assistant secretary and chief information officer; Mr. Ciarán Lawler, assistant secretary, director of corporate and Member services; Ms Mellissa English, assistant secretary, chief parliamentary legal adviser; and Mr. Donnacha McKeon, assistant principal officer.

We have received apologies from Deputies Geoghegan and McAuliffe.

We are joined by officials from the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General, including the Comptroller and Auditor General, Mr. Seamus McCarthy, who is a permanent witness to the committee, and Ms Paula O'Connor, deputy director of the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General. They are all very welcome here this morning.

I will explain some limitations to parliamentary privilege and the practice of the Houses as regards reference you may make to other persons in your 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. This means that you have an absolute defence against any defamation action for anything you say at the meeting. However, you are expected not to abuse this privilege. It is my duty as Cathaoirleach to ensure that this privilege is not abused. Therefore, if your statements are potentially defamatory in relation to an identifiable person or entity, you will be directed to discontinue your remarks. It is imperative that you comply with any such direction.

Witnesses are also 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 their statements are potentially defamatory in relation to an identifiable person or entity, they will be directed to discontinue their remarks. It is imperative that they comply with any such direction.

I call the Comptroller and Auditor General, Mr. Seamus McCarthy, for his opening statement.