Dominic Hannigan (Meath East, Labour) | Oireachtas source

The committee is in public session. I remind everyone to turn off mobile telephones, particularly the Senators using them, as they will interfere with the recording equipment. Putting them on silent is not good enough. We have received apologies from Deputy Crowe.
The first item on today's agenda is an exchange of views with the Irish delegation to the Committee of the Regions. On behalf of our committee, I welcome the delegation's members. We are joined by Councillor Patrick McGowan, the delegation's head, Councillor Constance Hanniffy, Councillor Des Hurley, Councillor Declan McDonnell, Councillor John Sheahan, Councillor Fiona O'Loughlin and Councillor Paul O'Donoghue. We are delighted also to be joined by Mr. John Crowley of the delegation's secretariat.
The Committee of the Regions represents local and regional government in EU policy formulation. An advisory body, it was established in 1994 to ensure that the public authorities closest to the citizen, those being, local and regional authorities, were consulted on EU policies of direct interest to them. Today's meeting is an opportunity for us to gain a greater understanding of the work the committee is engaged in and what the delegation contributes in Europe on Ireland's behalf.
Before we begin, I remind members of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that they should not comment on, criticise or make charges against a person or body outside the Houses or an official either by name or in such a way that he, she or it could be identifiable. 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 the committee to cease giving evidence in respect of a particular matter and they continue to do so, they are entitled thereafter only to a qualified privilege in respect of their evidence. They are asked to respect the practice that only evidence connected with the subject matter of these proceedings is to be given and that, where possible, they should not criticise or make charges against any person or entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable.
I invite Councillor Patrick McGowan, the head of the delegation, to make his opening remarks.