John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

We will deal now with No. 7, 2012 Annual Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General, Chapter 7 - Management of the Fixed Charge Notice system. I remind members, witnesses and visitors in the Public Gallery to ensure their mobile phones are switched off. A number of complaints were made to the committee following its previous and other meetings in relation to interference from mobile phones with the sound quality of the transmission of those meetings. The clerk has also received complaints from the public on the issue. I ask members and witnesses to remove their phones from the desks and to ensure they are switched off.

Before we begin, I advise witnesses that they are protected by absolute privilege in respect of their evidence to the committee. If witnesses are directed by the committee to cease giving evidence on a particular matter and they continue to do so, they are entitled thereafter only to a 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 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 either House, a person outside the Houses or an official by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable. I remind members of the provisions within Standing Order 163 that the committee shall also refrain from inquiring into the merits of a policy or policies of the Government or a Minister of the Government, or the merits of the objectives of such policies.

I welcome the Garda Commissioner, Mr. Martin Callinan, and invite him to introduce his officials.