John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)

This morning, we will engage with the Accounting Officer of the Department of Transport to discuss its 2024 appropriation accounts. We are joined by the following officials from the Department of Transport: Mr. Ken Spratt, Secretary General, Mr. Garret Doocey, assistant secretary general, land transport; Dr. Keith Walsh, assistant secretary general, road transport services and digital hub; Ms Róisín Cahillane, assistant secretary general, corporate affairs and central policy; and Ms Joanna Cullen, assistant secretary general, Irish Coast Guard.

We are also joined by the following officials who are attending in a representative capacity: Ms Martina Hennessy, assistant secretary general in the Department of Climate, Energy and Environment, and Ms Angela O’Gorman and Ms Leeann Kennedy, principal officers in the Office of the Revenue Commissioners. We are also 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 Niamh Kilkenny, audit manager.

You are all very welcome to our engagement this morning. I wish to 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 and 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 you should not criticise or make charges against any person or entity by name or in such a way to make him 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 your statements are potentially defamatory in relation to an identifiable person or entity you will be directed to discontinue your remarks. Again, it is imperative that you comply with any such direction.

I now call on the Comptroller and Auditor General, Mr Seamus McCarthy, to make his opening statement.