Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
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Apologies have been received from Deputies Stanley, Sherlock and McAuliffe. The meeting is straddling other business so there may be others unable to attend. We are joined remotely by the Comptroller and Auditor General, Mr. Seamus McCarthy, as a permanent witness to the committee. I remind all those in attendance to ensure their mobile phones are on silent mode, or switched off.

Today we begin the first of a two-day engagement with officials from the Department of Justice and the Irish Prison Service. Before us today, from the Comptroller and Auditor General's appropriation account 2019, is Vote 24 - Justice and Equality.

Tomorrow we will address Vote 21 – Prisons, and from the Comptroller and Auditor General Report on the Accounts of the Public Service 2019, chapter 7 – catering and ancillary services in prisons.

To assist us in our examination of the Department’s Vote today, and with regard to public health guidelines, we are joined in person by the following officials from the Department of Justice: Ms Oonagh McPhillips, Secretary General, Ms Martina Colville, assistant secretary, and Mr. Seamus Clifford, principal officer. We are also joined remotely by Ms Oonagh Buckley, deputy Secretary General, Mr. Doncha O’Sullivan, assistant secretary, and Mr. David Delaney, deputy head of immigration service delivery.

We are also joined remotely by Liam Gleeson from the justice Vote section at the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.

I welcome everyone to the meeting and thank them and the staff in the Department for the briefing material they have prepared for the committee.

Before we start, I wish to explain some limitations to parliamentary privilege, and the practice of the Houses as regards reference witnesses may make to other person in their evidence. Witnesses are protected by absolute privilege in respect of the presentation they make to the committee. This means that they have an absolute defence against any defamation action for anything they say at the meeting. However, they are expected not to abuse this privilege and it is my duty as Chair to ensure that this privilege is not abused. 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.

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.

Members are reminded of the provisions within Standing Order 218 that the committee shall refrain from enquiring 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.

Members are also reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice to that they should not comment on, criticise or make charges against a person outside the Houses or an official either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.

I also ask that members and witnesses remove their masks when speaking to ensure they can be heard, and that when members are leaving and taking their seats, they sanitise their area.

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