John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I ask members, witnesses and those in the public gallery to turn off their mobile phones, as they interfere with sound quality in the transmission of the meeting.

I advise witnesses that you are protected by absolute privilege in respect of the evidence you are to give this committee. If you are directed by the committee to cease giving evidence in relation to a particular matter and you continue to do so, you are entitled thereafter only to a qualified privilege in respect of your evidence. You are directed that only evidence connected with the subject matter of these proceedings is to be given and you are asked to respect the parliamentary practice to the effect that where possible you should not criticise nor make charges against a Member of either House, a person outside the House or an official by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable. Members are reminded of the provision within Standing Order 163 that the committee should also refrain from inquiring into the merits of a policy or policies of the Government or a Minister of the Government, or the merits of the objectives of such policies.

I welcome Mr. John Treacy, CEO of the Irish Sports Council, and ask him to introduce his officials.