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

The purpose of this morning's meeting is to meet with Mr. Gerry Murphy, chief executive, and his colleague Ms Anne Graham, director of public transport services and chair of the national committee for integrating local and rural transport, of the National Transport Authority to discuss the recently announced plans for the rural transport programme. On behalf of the committee I welcome Mr. Murphy and Ms Graham.

I wish to draw the witnesses' attention to the fact 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. However, if you are directed by the committee to cease giving evidence on a particular matter and you continue to do so, you are entitled thereafter only to a qualified privilege in respect of your evidence. You are directed that only evidence connected with the subject matter of these proceedings is to be given and you are asked to respect the parliamentary practice to the effect that, where possible, you should not criticise or make charges against any person, persons or entity by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable. I also wish to advise you that any submission or opening statements you have submitted to the committee will be published on the committee's website after the meeting. 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 House or an official either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable. I invite Mr. Murphy to make his opening remarks.