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

The purpose of this morning's meeting is to engage with representatives of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, the Galway Harbour Company, the Irish Exporters' Association and the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport in Ireland as part of the pre-legislative process relating to the general scheme of the harbours (amendment) Bill 2014. On behalf of the committee I welcome Mr. Pat Mangan, Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport; from Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, Mr. Richard Shakespeare, director of environment, Ms Philomena Poole, CEO, and Mr. Frank Austin; from the Irish Exporters' Association, Mr. Simon McKeever, CEO, and Mr. Howard Knott, director of trade facilitation; and Mr. Eamon Bradshaw and Captain Brian Sheridan from the Galway Harbour Company.
I draw the witnesses' attention to the fact that, by virtue of 17(2)(l) of the Defamation Act 2009, they are protected by absolute privilege in respect of their evidence to the joint 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, persons or entity by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable. I also advise that any submission or opening statements they have made to the committee 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 propose that all four witnesses be given the opportunity to make their statements. They have submitted their statements in advance and members have had a chance to go through them. Therefore, I ask that presentations be kept as brief as possible in order to allow members to ask questions afterwards. I shall be as flexible as I can be and I want to do this in as orderly a fashion as possible.