John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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We will deal with the Department of Finance's 2017 statement of strategy. I welcome Mr. Derek Moran, Secretary General of the Department, and his officials. Before we begin, I remind those present to turn off their mobile phones, as they interfere with the sound quality and transmission of the meeting.

I advise the witnesses that, by virtue of section 17(2)(l) of the Defamation Act 2009, they are protected by absolute privilege in respect of their evidence to the committee. If they are directed by the committee to cease giving evidence on a particular matter and they continue to do so, they are entitled thereafter only to qualified privilege in respect of their evidence. They are directed that only evidence connected with the subject matter of these proceedings is to be given and are asked to respect the parliamentary practice to the effect that, where possible, they should not criticise or make charges against any person, persons or entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable.

I invite Mr. Moran to make his opening statement.