David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We are in public session. The purpose of this part of the meeting is to receive a briefing on the report of the working group on the review of firearms licensing.A briefing has been circulated to members. I welcome Chief Superintendent Mr. Fergus Healy, and Sergeant Paul Green, and thank them for their time and presence. We are also joined by Ms Marion Walsh, principal officer, and Mr. Brendan O'Loughlin, assistant principal officer, from the Department of Justice and Equality. I thank them for attending the meeting and we appreciate their presence and help. I will invite the witnesses to brief the committee on the issues involved, and we will then have a question-and-answer session with members.
Before we begin, I draw the attention of witnesses to the situation regarding privilege. By virtue of section 17(2)(l) of the Defamation Act 2009 you are protected by absolute privilege in respect of the evidence you are to give to the committee. However, 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 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 any person, persons or entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable. Members should also be aware that under salient rulings of the Chair, members should not comment on, criticise or make charges against a person outside the House or an official by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.