Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Officials from the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources are present to brief the committee on the Department's recently launched national broadband plan, Delivering a Connected Society - A National Broadband Plan for Ireland. I welcome Mr. Aidan Dunning, Secretary General; Ms Kathleen Licken, assistant secretary; and Mr. Kenneth Spratt, Mr. Aidan Ryan and Ms Finola Rossi.

By virtue of section 17(2)(l) of the Defamation Act 2009, witnesses are protected by absolute privilege in respect of the evidence they give to this committee. If they are directed by the committee to cease giving evidence in regard to a particular matter and continue to so do, they are entitled thereafter only to qualified privilege in respect of their evidence. They are directed that only evidence connected with the subject matter of these proceedings is to be given and they are asked to respect the parliamentary practice to the effect that, where possible, they should neither criticise nor make charges against any person or entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable.

Members are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that the 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.

The opening statement submitted to the committee will be published on the committee's website after this meeting. I invite Mr. Dunning to make his presentation.