Mr. Peter Finnegan:

A Chathaoirligh agus a chomhaltaí, fáiltím roimh an deis seo teacht os comhair an Choiste um Chuntais Phoiblí agus cabhrú le scrúdú a dhéanamh ar chuntais Choimisiún Thithe an Oireachtais don bhliain 2024. Before I turn to the commission's accounts for 2024, I would like to take this opportunity to briefly reflect on my time as Clerk of the Dáil and Secretary General. I would also like to acknowledge the commitment and hard work demonstrated by the staff of the Houses over these years.

When I was appointed as Clerk in 2013, the country was starting to emerge from a very severe economic crisis, which led to deep cuts in public expenditure and significant reductions in staffing. Ireland's reputation, politically and economically, was at a low ebb and there was a lot of rebuilding work to do. One of the first real opportunities to restore our political reputation was Ireland's Presidency of the European Union in 2013. We took this opportunity very seriously. We committed to ensuring that our national Parliament availed of every opportunity to engage with our European counterparts, thereby rebuilding and ensuring durable working relations at all levels across the EU. The success of the parliamentary dimension of the Presidency provided a foundation for the rebuilding of relationships with parliamentarians across the EU. That period also saw us actively develop Oireachtas TV. One of the first major parliamentary events to be televised was the banking inquiry in 2015. There was a huge public appetite at that time for access to what was happening in Leinster House. Being in a position to broadcast on both TV and the web brought accountability and democracy into the homes of those who wished to participate.

The 2016 general election saw another significant change to how the House operates. As you will remember, the Ceann Comhairle was elected for the first time by secret ballot, strengthening the authority of the office. The d'Hondt system for committee Chairs was also used for the first time ensuring a more proportional system for their appointment.

The newly elected Ceann Comhairle, Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl, led a comprehensive programme of parliamentary reform, from the establishment of the Business Committee to that of the special committee on Sláintecare and the Committee on Budgetary Oversight. We also had the establishment of the Parliamentary Budget Office in 2017 and the Office of Parliamentary Legal Advisers, which was placed on a statutory footing in 2019. These initiatives allowed the Houses to progress in a manner that provided greater accountability and additional opportunities for participation, alongside the provision of expert and professional services to Members.

One of the projects I am very proud to have been involved in is the restoration of historic Leinster House. As the national Parliament, we are custodians of this building on behalf of the public. A two-year project, led by the OPW, was completed on time in 2019 at a cost of €17 million. The restoration of that historic building should ensure its ability to weather a few storms, both political and weather related, in the years ahead.

Even though historic Leinster House was under restoration, the Houses were still able to play a major role in the Decade of Centenaries. The centenary of women's suffrage was commemorated in 2018 and the centenary of the first sitting of Dáil Éireann was marked by a special commemorative sitting in the Mansion House in January 2019. We celebrated Seanad 100 in 2022. It is not often that an institution can feel a sense of pride; however, these commemorations did just that. They rekindled and reminded us of our valuable history of parliamentary democracy and the many people who strove to provide a lasting legacy.

Then, of course, Covid hit. This was undoubtedly one of the greatest challenges the country and the Houses of the Oireachtas Service have ever faced. We all recall how the Dáil had to move to the convention centre to ensure the safety of Members and staff and so that the Houses could function to pass legislation to support our economy and people. Remote working, virtual meetings and off-site meetings became the norm. This demonstrated that the Houses of the Oireachtas Service comprises resilient staff who rise to challenges, are innovative and are deeply committed to ensuring our national Parliament can operate regardless of the circumstances.

When Covid finally abated, we resumed normal parliamentary activity in Leinster House. We welcomed back our visitors and resumed our education programme and public engagement. We hosted several major international conferences and held historic joint sittings, including the address by President Joe Biden in 2023. There were also other important initiatives, including the forum on a family-friendly and inclusive Parliament and the forum on safe participation in public life. It has been extremely busy and productive since 2013.

On a personal level, I would like to thank most sincerely my colleagues for their support and hard work. It gives me a great sense of pride to be leaving my role in the knowledge that the systems and policies in place will underpin the future of the Houses of the Oireachtas for many years to come. As I look back on my 29 years, it has been an enormous privilege for me to have served here.

With the Chair's indulgence, there are a couple of further points I would like to make, if that is okay.