Dominic Hannigan (Meath East, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I remind all members and those attending to switch off their mobile phones completely; it is not enough to leave them in silent mode, as they cause interference with the recording equipment in the committee rooms.
The first item on our agenda is a discussion with Councillor Fiona O'Loughlin, a member of the Irish delegation to the Committee of the Regions. At approximately 2.30 p.m. the Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Deputy Paschal Donohoe, will attend to discuss the draft national reform programme, a key element of the new European semester process. In advance of that discussion I welcome Councillor O'Loughlin. The Committee of the Regions comprises 344 local and regional representatives from across the European Union. When we met the committee earlier this year, one of the issues that arose concerned the need to promote awareness and provide an opportunity for local government representatives to engage on key EU issues. As a committee, we agreed to have a discussion on the European semester process, and the draft national reform plan would be a good starting point to ensure a flavour of the Committee of the Regions is included in the process of awareness promotion. It is for that reason we have invited Councillor O'Loughlin to attend.
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 outside the Houses or an official, either by name or in such a way as to make him or her 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. However, if they are directed by it to cease giving evidence on a particular matter and continue to do so, they are 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 or an entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable.
I invite Councillor O'Loughlin to make her opening remarks.