Jerry Buttimer (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I remind members to turn off their mobile phones or put them into airplane mode as they interfere with the broadcasting of the meeting. I have received apologies from Deputies Robert Dowds and Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin and Senator Imelda Henry. Senator Jillian van Turnhout will attend, but she is in the Seanad as we speak.

The first part of our meeting this afternoon is the continuation of our pre-legislative scrutiny of the general scheme of the public health (alcohol) Bill 2015. The Minister has given us the Bill for consideration. We have held several meetings already with several stakeholders. Today I welcome Dr. Patrick Kenny, school of marketing, Dublin Institute of Technology; Mr. Barry Dooley, chief executive, Association of Advertisers in Ireland; Mr. Padraic White, chairperson, and Mr. Jerome White of Responsible Retailing of Alcohol; and Mr. James Doorley, deputy director, National Youth Council of Ireland.

Members should note that we invited representatives from the group under the auspices of Mr. Fergus Finlay in his capacity as chief executive officer of Barnardos and as chief executive officer of the Stop Out-of-Control Drinking, SOCD, campaign. Mr. Finlay submitted a detailed reply, which is in members' correspondence packs, and said that his group hopes to attend the committee at a future date. They are not ready for today's meeting. I thank him for the submission and agreeing to come before us later.

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 it to cease giving evidence on a particular matter and 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 are asked to respect the parliamentary practice to the effect that, where possible, they should not criticise or make charges against any person or an 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 Houses or an official either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.

I invite Dr. Kenny to make his opening remarks.