John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I welcome the members to the committee. I wish to remind all of those in attendance to ensure that their mobile phones are on silent mode or switched off. Before we proceed, I have a few housekeeping matters to go through. I remind members of the constitutional requirement that in order to participate in public meetings they must be physically present within the confines of the Leinster House complex. Members of the committee attending remotely must do so from within the precincts of Leinster House. Members are further reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice and ruling of the Cathaoirleach to the effect that they should not comment on, criticise or make charges against a person outside the House or an official by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable. Members are also reminded of the provisions within Standing Order 226 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.

We are joined by the Comptroller and Auditor General, Mr. Seamus McCarthy, who is a permanent witness to the committee. He is accompanied by audit manager at the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General, Mr. Mahin Fitzpatrick.

The public business before us is as follows: accounts and financial statements, correspondence, work programme and any other business. We will then suspend for five minutes while the witnesses take their seats. We will begin our session with the Department of housing at approximately 10.30 a.m. A total of three sets of accounts and financial statements were laid between 9 June and 13 June 2025. They are due to be considered today. I ask Mr. McCarthy to introduce these before opening the floor to members.