John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We now come to pre-legislative scrutiny on the general scheme of the road traffic Bill 2015. The purpose of this afternoon's meeting is to engage with representatives of the Garda National Traffic Bureau and the Irish Road Haulage Association as part of the committee's pre-legislative scrutiny on the heads of the road traffic Bill 2015. On behalf of the committee I welcome the assistant commissioner, Mr. John Twomey, and superintendent Con O'Donohue of the Garda National Traffic Bureau, and Mr. Gerry McMahon and Mr. Jonathan Molony of the Irish Road Haulage Association.

I wish to draw your attention 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 this committee. However, if you are directed by the committee to cease giving evidence on a particular matter and you continue to so do, you are entitled thereafter only to qualified privilege in respect of your evidence. You are directed that only evidence connected with the subject matter of these proceedings is to be given and you are asked to respect the parliamentary practice to the effect that, where possible, you 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. I also wish to advise you that any submission or opening statements you have made to the committee will be published on the committee website after this meeting.

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 by name, or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable. I now call on assistant commissioner Mr. John Twomey to make his opening statement.