Frank Feighan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

On behalf of the committee, I am pleased to welcome from the Northern Ireland Community Relations Council, Mr. Peter Osborne, chairman, Ms Jacqueline Irwin, chief executive officer, Ms Sylvia Gordon, co-opted member and Mr. Tony Kennedy OBE, co-opted member.
The Northern Ireland Community Relations Council was founded in January 1990 as an independent company and registered charity. Its aim is to assist the development of greater understanding and co-operation between political, cultural and religious communities in Northern Ireland and to promote a peaceful, fair society based on reconciliation and mutual trust. We look forward to hearing about the work in which the council is involved which will lead to a society free from sectarianism and racism and support activity to promote a shared society with a future for all citizens in Northern Ireland.
I advise the witnesses that, by virtue of section 17(2)(l) of the Defamation Act 2009, witnesses are protected by absolute privilege in respect of their evidence to this committee. If they are directed by the committee to cease giving evidence on a particular matter and they continue to so do, 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 criticise or make charges against any person or persons or entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable. Members are reminded of the long-standing ruling of the Chair to the effect that they should not comment on, criticise or make charges against a person outside the Houses or any official by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.
I invite Mr. Peter Osborne to make his opening statement.