John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

No. 7 is our meeting with the Irish Sports Council and National Sports Campus Development Authority. I apologise that our earlier meeting went on a bit longer. The purpose of this morning's meeting is to meet with the representatives of the Irish Sports Council and National Sports Campus Development Authority to discuss the implications of the proposed merger of the two organisations under the proposed sport Ireland Bill 2014. Our meeting will be part of a pre-legislative scrutiny process to enable the committee members to gain a greater appreciation of the implications of the proposed merger. The Minister of State, Deputy Ring, has sought the considered views of the committee on the proposed general scheme of the sport Ireland Bill 2014 and the committee has been asked to provide observations on the proposed merger by 14 March. On behalf of the committee I welcome Mr. Sean Benton, chairman and Mr. David Conway, CEO, of the National Sports Campus Development Authority, and Mr. Kieran Mulvey, chairman, Mr. John Treacy, chief executive, and Dr. Una May, director of participation and anti-doping, of the Irish Sports Council.

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 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 any person, persons or entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable. The opening statements the witnesses have submitted will be published on the committee 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 Houses or any official either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.