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

The purpose of the meeting is to engage with the chairpersons designate of Bus Éireann, Iarnród Éireann and CIE in order to discuss the approaches that will be taken when they are appointed to their roles and the challenges facing the companies. Members will be aware of the Government's decision in May 2011 to put new arrangements in place for the appointment of persons to State boards and bodies. The committee welcomes the opportunity to meet the chairpersons designate to hear their views. We trust this will give greater transparency to the process of appointment to State boards and bodies. We will meet, first, Mr. Aidan Murphy, chairperson designate of Bus Éireann, whom I welcome on behalf of the committee.
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 any person or an entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable. I also advise that any submission or opening statement submitted will be published on the committee's 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 an official by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.
I apologise for the delay in starting. We were dealing with private business. As we have two other interviews, we will try to confine this part of the meeting to approximately 40 minutes.