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

I remind members and visitors to turn their mobile phones off. Our meeting has been convened today to discuss the policy issues arising from the Cemetery Management Bill 2013 and related matters. At 3.15 p.m. there will be a minute's silence in the Chamber as an expression of sympathy for the victims of the Paris atrocities. I put members on notice that this committee will join in with that. It is proposed that, if not previously concluded, this session will be brought to a conclusion at 3.30 p.m., as the Select Sub-Committee on Finance will be meeting here to discuss the Finance Bill 2015. As a result of the late start, we are under a particular time restriction.

I welcome the following witnesses to the meeting: from the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government, Ms Mary Hurley, assistant secretary, community division and Ms David Dalton, principal officer, community division; from the Competition and Consumer Protection Authority, Ms Isolde Goggin, the chairperson, Mr. John Shine, director of advocacy and market intelligence, and Ms Haiyan Wang, head of unit, consumer enforcement division; from the Irish Monumental Firms Association, Mr. David Pierce of Pierce Monuments, Mr. John Sweeney of Craft Monuments and Mr. Gerry Brennan of Headstones Ireland; and from the Dublin Cemeteries Committee, Mr. John Green, chairman, and Mr. George McCullough, chief executive. The Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation has supplied a written submission.

I draw the witnesses' 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. If they are directed by the committee to cease giving evidence on a particular matter and they 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, persons or entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable. It is proposed that the opening statements and any other documents that may be provided by witnesses be published on the committee website after the meeting. Is that agreed? Agreed.

I now call Ms Mary Hurley from the Department to make her opening statement.