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

If members wish to raise other issues at another time, I am sure that the Commissioner will facilitate us by returning to deal with them. The briefing on the annual policing plan 2015 has been circulated to members. I ask everyone to turn off mobile telephones or put them on aeroplane mode or some mode that does not interfere with the sound system, please.

I welcome the Commissioner and her team and thank them for attending. I will ask the Commissioner to make a brief opening statement of five or six minutes, after which we will have a questions and answers session with members. We will see where that leads us. I call on the Commissioner to introduce her team and commence.

Before we begin, I must draw the witnesses' attention to the privilege situation. 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 do so, they are entitled thereafter only to 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 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 should also be aware that, under the salient rulings of the Chair, they should not comment on, criticise or make charges against a person outside the Houses or an official by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.

The floor is the Commissioner's.