I welcome Mr. Benton. It is his first time to appear before the committee as Accounting Officer. We are dealing with the report on value for money examination (No. 43) - building maintenance service, Vote 10 - the Office of Public Works and Vote 44 - Flood Relief.
Members and witnesses' attention is drawn to the fact that as from 2 August 1998, section 10 of the Committees of the Houses of the Oireachtas (Compellability, Privileges and Immunities of Witnesses) Act 1997, grants certain rights to persons who are identified in the course of the committee's proceedings. These include the right to give evidence, the right to produce or send documents to the committee, the right to appear before the committee either in person or through a representative, the right to make a written and oral submission, the right to request the committee to direct the attendance of witnesses and the introduction of documents and the right to cross-examine witnesses. For the most part, these rights may only be exercised with the consent of the committee. Persons being invited before the committee are made aware of these rights and any persons identified during the course of proceedings who are not present may have to be made aware of these rights and provided with the transcript of the relevant part of the proceedings, if the committee considers it appropriate in the interests of justice.
Notwithstanding this provision in legislation, I remind members of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that members should not comment on, criticise or make charges against a person outside the House or an official either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable. Members are also reminded of the provision within Standing Order 156 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.
I invite Mr. Benton, chairman of the Office of Public Works, to introduce his officials.