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

I welcome the delegation from the Commission for Communications Regulation, ComReg. I welcome Mr. Alex Chisholm, commissioner and chairman, Mr. Kevin O'Brien, commissioner, Mr. Stephen Brogan and Mr. Séamas Plunkett who are with us to brief the joint committee on the commission's postal strategy statement 2012-14.

I advise that, by virtue of section 17(2)(l) of the Defamation Act 2009, witnesses are protected by absolute privilege in respect of their evidence to the committee. If they are directed by it to cease giving evidence on 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 asked to respect the parliamentary practice to the effect that, where possible, they should not criticise or make charges against a person, persons or an entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable. I also advise them that their opening statement to the committee and the proceedings of the committee will be published on the committee's website. Members are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that they should not comment on, criticise or make charges against a person outside the Houses or an official by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.

I now ask Mr. Chisholm to make his opening presentation.