John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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I remind all of those in attendance to ensure their mobile phones are on silent or switched off. Before we proceed, I have a few housekeeping matters. I remind members of the constitutional requirements that to participate in public meetings, members 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 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. Members are further reminded of the long-standing practice and ruling of the Cathaoirleach to the effect that members should not comment on, criticise or make charges against a person outside the House or an official by name or in such a way to make him or her identifiable.

The Comptroller and Auditor General, Mr. Seamus McCarthy, is a permanent witness to the committee. We will now examine accounts and statements, correspondence and the work programme. We will then suspend the meeting and resume at 10.30 a.m. for an engagement with officials from the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation and the NSSO. Six sets of accounts and financial statements, which were laid between 30 June and 4 July 2025, are due to be considered today. I ask the Comptroller and Auditor General to address them before opening the floor to members.