Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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We have a full house this morning. I hope we will have seating accommodation for everybody. I begin by welcoming everyone to this morning's meeting. Apologies have been received from Deputy Imelda Munster.

If attending from within the committee room, attendees are asked to exercise personal responsibility to protect themselves and others from the risk of contracting Covid-19.

Members of the committee attending remotely must do so from within the precincts of the Parliament. 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 Parliament has chosen to sit.

The Comptroller and Auditor General, Mr. Seamus McCarthy, is a permanent witness to the committee. He is accompanied this morning by Mr. John Crean, deputy director of audit, at the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General.

This morning we will engage with officials from the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to examine the following matters: Appropriation Accounts 2021: Vote 40 - children, equality, disability, integration and youth. The Department has been advised that the committee has expressed a particular interest in direct provision, emergency accommodation, and related matters.

Also for examination from the Comptroller and Auditor General's 2021 Report on the Accounts of the Public Services is chapter 13 - guardian ad litemfollow-up report.

We are joined by the following officials from the Department: Mr. Kevin McCarthy, Secretary General; Dr. Anne-Marie Brooks assistant secretary; Ms Carol Baxter, assistant secretary; Ms Lara Hynes, assistant secretary; and Ms Sheenagh Rooney, assistant secretary. We are joined by the following representatives from Tusla in relation to the guardian ad litem report: Mr. Bernard Gloster, chief executive officer and Ms Kate Duggan, deputy CEO, national director of services and integration. The following representatives from the relevant Vote section in the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform are joining us remotely from within the precincts of Leinster House: Ms Jessica Lawless, principal officer, and Mr. Fionn Jenkinson, assistant principal officer. The witnesses are all very welcome. I remind all those in attendance to ensure their mobile phones are on silent mode or switched off.

Before we start, I wish to explain some limitations to parliamentary privilege, and the practice of the Houses as regards the reference witnesses may make to other persons in their evidence. Witnesses within the precincts of Leinster House 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 Cathaoirleach 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.

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.

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