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

We have resumed in public session. The purpose of this meeting is to have a further engagement with citizens who made submissions on the review of firearms licensing. On behalf of the committee I welcome Mr. Philip Slattery, Mr. Mark Dennehy, Mr. Jeff McCann, Mr. Brian Conroy from the Irish Firearms Dealers Gunshops, and Mr. Joe Costello from the National Rifle Association of Ireland, and Mr. Michael Tope from the National Association of Sporting Rifle and Pistol Clubs. We look forward to hearing from the gentlemen. We will invite everybody to make an opening statement of approximately five minutes and then there will be a question and answer session to get into the detail. We covered a lot of ground this morning so I am not sure we need to go into all the detail. We try not to be repetitive if possible.

I draw the attention of witnesses 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 the committee. However, 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 a 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 they 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.

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 House or an official either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.

I invite Mr. Slattery to kick off please.