Michael McCarthy (Cork South West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I remind members to turn off their mobile telephones because they interfere with the ability to web stream events. This meeting has been convened to consider matters relating to the consultation paper on the establishment of an electoral commission. It has been agreed by the committee that this session should, if not previously concluded, conclude at 4.45 p.m. I welcome the following witnesses to our meeting: the former chairman of the Joint Oireachtas on the Environment, Deputy Sean Fleming, which published the report, The Future of the Electoral Register in Ireland and Related Matters; Mr. Jim O'Keeffe, former long-standing Member of the Dáil, who was also Vice-Chairman of the Joint Committee on the Constitution of the 30th Dáil, which produced the report, Article 16: Review of the Electoral System for the Election of Members to Dáil Éireann in 2010; and Mr. Noel Whelan, barrister, author of a book on electoral law in Ireland and a well-informed, interesting political commentator.

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 they are directed by the committee to cease giving evidence in relation to a particular matter and they continue to so do, 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 nor make charges against any person, persons or entity either by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable.

It has been agreed that all the opening statements and any documentation that others have submitted to the committee may be published on the committee website once the meeting is concluded. I call Deputy Fleming to make his opening statement.