Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

The next item on the agenda is accreditation of the Bahrain facility of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland. A report on the accreditation of the Bahrain facility of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland was prepared by Ceartas, Irish Lawyers for Human Rights, in May of this year. That body wrote to the committee requesting an opportunity to raise the issue with us and, accordingly, there will be a presentation on the matter today. Following this we will have discussions about the junior cycle.

From Ceartas, I welcome Dr. Gearóid Ó Cuinn and Mr. Gerry Liston. By virtue of section 17(2)(l) of the Defamation Act 2009, witnesses are protected by absolute privilege in respect of their evidence to this committee. However, if they are directed by the committee to cease giving evidence on a particular matter and they continue to so do, they are entitled thereafter only to qualified privilege in respect of their evidence. Witnesses are directed that only evidence connected with the subject matter of these proceedings is to be given. They are asked to respect the parliamentary practice that, where possible, they should not criticise or make charges against any person, persons or entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable. I advise witnesses that the opening statements they have submitted to the committee will be published on the committee's website after this meeting. Members are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that they should not comment on, criticise or make charges against any person outside the Houses or an official either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.