Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I take the opportunity to welcome the third set of delegates this morning: Professor Frank Convery, chairman of the Earth Institute at UCD and chairman of PublicPolicy.ie; and Mr. Cormac O'Sullivan, head of research at PublicPolicy.ie. Before we begin, witnesses should note that they are protected by absolute privilege in respect of their evidence. However, if they are directed by the joint committee to cease giving evidence on a particular matter and continue to do so, they are entitled thereafter only to qualified privilege in respect of their evidence. They are directed to restrict their evidence to the subject matter of these proceedings and to respect parliamentary practice by not criticising or making charges against a person, persons or an entity. They are also asked to read the document which has been circulated to them on privilege. I remind them not to read their opening statement which has been circulated to members and which we will take as read.