Liam Twomey (Wexford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The committee is in public session. Session A is an overview of the operations and functioning of the national lottery. I welcome from RGDATA, Ms Tara Buckley, director general, and from the CSNA, Mr. Vincent Jennings, chief executive officer, and Mr. Joe Tierney for the national executive. The format of the meeting will be that Ms Buckley and Mr. Jennings will make short opening statements of five minutes each and a question and answer session will follow to clarify any matters. I remind members, witnesses and those in the public Gallery that all mobile phones must be switched off.

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 continue to so do, they are entitled thereafter to only 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 or persons or entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable. Finally, 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 or persons outside the Houses or an official by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.

As we are time constricted here this afternoon I will insist that it is a five-minute opening presentation. I ask Ms Buckley to begin.