Dominic Hannigan (Meath East, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I remind members to switch off mobile phones. It is not sufficient to put them on silent. They must be switched off, otherwise they will cause interference with the broadcasting equipment.

Today we will discuss the outcome of the European Parliament elections and their implications for Ireland and Europe. We will consider the composition of the new Parliament.

We will look at the composition of the new European Parliament and consider the relatively low turn-out across the European Union. We will also discuss the move away from the traditional centre-right and centre-left parties towards extremist parties on both the left and the right and consider the possible impact that might have on the work of the European Parliament. We are joined today for our consideration of those issues by Professor Gail McElroy from the Department of Political Science at Trinity College Dublin and Ms Suzanne Lynch, who is the European correspondent of The Irish Timesand is based in Brussels. The head of the European Parliament office in Dublin, Mr. Francis Jacobs, has helpfully provided the committee with a background note on the outcome of the European Parliament elections.
Before we begin today's proceedings, I have to 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 the evidence they give to the committee. 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. They are asked to respect the parliamentary practice to the effect that, where possible, they should not make charges against a person or entity by name or in such as way as to make him, her or it identifiable. I welcome Professor McElroy and Ms Lynch. I invite Professor McElroy to address the committee.