Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour) | Oireachtas source

No. 7 on the agenda is consideration of the draft heads of the general scheme of the regulation of lobbying Bill 2013 with representatives of the OECD, through the use of video conference facilities. I welcome Mr. János Bertók, the head of the public sector integrity division of the OECD; Mr. Julio Bacio Terracino, a policy analyst with the OECD; and Ms Ulrika Kilnes, a junior policy analyst with the OECD. The format is that Mr. Bertók will make some opening remarks which will be followed by a question and answer session.

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 do so, they will be 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. Members are reminded of the long-standing ruling of the Chair 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 ask Mr. Bertók to make his opening statement.