Seán Fleming (Laois, Fianna Fail)
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We are joined today by the Comptroller and Auditor General, Mr. Seamus McCarthy, who is accompanied by Ms Maureen Mulligan, deputy director. Apologies have been received from Deputy Alan Kelly, the Vice Chairman. We are rearranging the sequence of our agenda for today's meeting and are starting with matters relating to the strategic communications unit. It follows on from the appropriation accounts 2016, both relating to the Department of An Taoiseach's strategic communications unit. We are joined from the Department of An Taoiseach by Mr. Martin Fraser, Secretary General, Ms Mary Keenan, head of corporate affairs and Ms Geraldine Butler, finance officer. We are also joined from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform by Mr. Brian O'Malley, Government accounting unit. You are all very welcome to today's meeting. I remind members, witnesses and those in the Public Gallery to switch off their mobile phones entirely. That means putting them on airplane mode, and not just on silent.

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. However, if they are directed by the committee to cease giving evidence on a particular matter and they continue to so do, they are entitled thereafter only to a 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 they 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.

Members of the committee are reminded of the provisions of Standing Order 186 that the committee shall refrain from inquiring into the merits of a policy or policies of the Government or a Minister of the Government or the merits of the objectives of such policies. While we expect witnesses to answer questions put by the committee members clearly and with candour, witnesses will be treated fairly and with respect and consideration at all times, in line with the Oireachtas witness protocol.

I call on the Comptroller and Auditor General to make his opening statement.