Liam Twomey (Wexford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome Mr. Paul Quinn, chief procurement officer of the Office of Government Procurement, who is accompanied by Mr. Vincent Campbell, policy director, and Ms Theresa Ryan, communications manager. I also welcome Ms Gráinne McGuckin, principal officer at the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. The format of the meeting will be that Mr. Quinn will make some opening remarks and, in view of the time constraints, I ask that he take less than ten minutes to do so. I remind members, witnesses and those in the Visitors Gallery that all mobile phones must be switched off.

I wish to advise the witnesses that by virtue of section 17(2)(l) of the Defamation Act 2009, they 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 will be 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 ruling of the Chair 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 call Mr. Quinn.