Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I remind witnesses, members and those in the gallery to ensure their mobile telephones are switched off completely for the duration of the meeting as they cause interference even on silent mode with the recording equipment in the committee rooms. From time to time members leave their telephones on and they cause interference, so I appeal to everyone to ensure they are switched off completely.

The main item for discussion today is a presentation on unethical organ harvesting in China by Ms Dongxue Dai, Mr. David Matas, Mr. Ethan Gutmann, Mr. Declan Lyons and Mr. Zek Halu. On behalf of the committee I welcome them all. I also welcome those in the Gallery. Members of the delegation were in contact with the committee some time ago, after which we met and arranged for them to come before the committee today. They attended a conference in DCU in recent days and we are delighted they are here to make a presentation. The presentation will last approximately ten minutes after which we will have a question and answer session. Committee members are very interested in this subject, which is of grave concern to everyone. I am sure we will have a very constructive and informative debate this afternoon on the question of forced organ harvesting. I understand presentations will be made by Mr. David Matas and Mr. Ethan Gutmann. A DVD and publication will be available to members after the meeting.

Before I invite the witnesses to make their presentations, I advise them they are protected by absolute privilege in respect of utterances at the committee. However, if they are directed by the committee to cease making remarks on a particular matter and they continue to do so, they are entitled thereafter only to qualified privilege in respect of their remarks. They are directed that only comments on the subject matters of the meeting are to be made and they are asked to respect the parliamentary practice to the effect that where possible they should not criticise or make charges against a member of the Houses of the Oireachtas, a person outside the Houses or an official by name in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.