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

I welcome the officials from the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources and the representatives of Capita Business Support Services Ireland Limited. The purpose of this meeting is to engage with them as well as representatives of An Post and BearingPoint on the development, roll-out and operation of the national postcode system, Eircode, which was launched on 28 April. Members will recall that we met representatives of Freight Transport Association Ireland and some of its members on this matter on 5 November.
On behalf of the committee, I welcome Mr. Eamonn Molloy, assistant secretary, and Ms Patricia Cronin from the Department, Mr. Liam O'Sullivan, mails operations director at An Post, Mr. Liam Duggan, business development director at Capita Business Support Services Ireland, and Mr. Paul Allen, stakeholder manager at BearingPoint. I draw their attention to the fact 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. 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 are asked to respect the parliamentary practice to the effect that, where possible, they should not criticise or make charges against any person, persons or entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable. I also wish to advise them that any submission or opening statement they have submitted 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 either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.
I invite Mr. Molloy to make his opening remarks.