Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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I welcome everyone to our online meeting. Due to the current situation regarding Covid-19, only the clerk, support staff and I are in the committee room. Members of the committee are attending remotely from within the precincts of Leinster House. This is due to the constitutional requirement that in order to participate in public meetings, members must be physically present within the confines of the place where the Parliament has chosen to sit, namely, Leinster House or the Convention Centre Dublin. I ask that committee members confirm their location before contributing to ensure they are adhering to this constitutional requirement.

The Comptroller and Auditor General, Mr. Seamus McCarthy, is a permanent witness to the committee and is attending remotely.

Today, we will examine the 2019 financial statements of An Bord Pleanála. Areas of interest to members, which An Bord Pleanála have been made aware of, include strategic housing developments, the judicial review process, the regular objection process and staffing levels at An Bord Pleanála. To assist us in our examination of the 2019 financial statements, we are joined remotely from outside the precincts of Leinster House by the following officials from An Bord Pleanála: Mr. Dave Walsh, chairperson, Mr. Gerard Egan, director of corporate affairs and Ms Anne Killian, finance officer. They are all very welcome.

When we begin to engage, I ask members and witnesses to mute themselves when not contributing in order that we do not pick up any background noise or feedback. As usual, I remind all those in attendance to ensure that their mobile phones are on silent mode or switched off.

Before I start, I wish to explain some limitations to parliamentary privilege and the practice of the Houses as regards reference witnesses may make to other persons in their evidence. The evidence of witnesses who are physically present or who give evidence from within the parliamentary precincts are protected pursuant to both the Constitution and statute by absolute privilege. However, today's witnesses are giving their evidence remotely, from a place outside of the parliamentary precincts and as such may not benefit from the same level of immunity from legal proceedings as does a witness physically present. Such witnesses have already been advised that they may think it appropriate to take legal advice on this matter.

Members are reminded of the provisions within Standing Order 218 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.

Members are also reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice 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.

To assist our broadcasting and debates services, I ask that members direct their questions to a specific witness. If the question has not been directed to a specific witness, I ask the witness to state his or her name the first time he or she contributes.

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