Michael McCarthy (Cork South West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

By virtue of section 17(2)(l) of the Defamation Act 2009, witnesses are protected by absolute privilege in respect of the evidence they are to give this committee. If a witness is directed by the committee to cease giving evidence in relation to a particular matter and the witness continues to so do, the witness is entitled thereafter only to a qualified privilege in respect of his or her evidence. Witnesses are directed that only evidence connected with the subject matter of these proceedings is to be given and witnesses are asked to respect the parliamentary practice to the effect that, where possible, they should not criticise nor make charges against any person or persons 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 that they should not comment on, criticise or make charges against a person outside the House or an official by name in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.

I advise witnesses that the opening statement and any other documents submitted to the committee will be published on the committee website after this meeting. In the interests of fairness we will hear the witnesses in strict alphabetical order according to surnames. The exception will be the Dublin City Council submission which will be taken last. The members of the committee are here to listen. I ask witnesses to note that the committee has no opinion on this issue other than this is an important site in the history of Ireland and must be maintained. The committee does not have an opinion at this stage nor has it expressed an opinion on the best means to do this. The purpose of today's meeting is to inform the committee of the issues involved. The committee will deliberate in private session at a later date on what it has heard.

I wish to make a further statement. Chartered Land was also invited to this meeting but, unfortunately, has declined the invitation to attend. It gave a number of reasons for its non-attendance. As Chairman of the committee I made every reasonable attempt to persuade Chartered Land to attend and to facilitate its attendance. Acknowledging its central role as owners of the site, I acceded to its request for more speaking time than other witnesses. I guaranteed that it would not be subjected to questioning or interruption by any other witnesses and if this happened, the meeting would be suspended. I changed the venue of the meeting to ensure that correct parliamentary procedure would be followed to achieve that objective. This could best be done at a committee meeting in Leinster House and this is the reason we are meeting here today. The meeting was originally scheduled to take place in the offices of Dublin City Council on Wood Quay. I thank Dublin City Council for facilitating that request. We changed the venue specifically to facilitate the attendance of Chartered Land. However, Chartered Land, among other conditions, wished to give its evidence in private session only. This was not acceptable to the committee. This committee hears evidence in public session in so far as possible. Chartered Land has declined our invitation. It has missed the opportunity to put its case in an open forum before the Members of both Houses of the Oireachtas and before the people. It is unfortunate but that is its choice.

I invite Ms Nora Comiskey to address the committee.