Frank Feighan (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

On behalf of the committee, I am pleased to welcome Mr. John McCallister, MLA, Independent Unionist, and Mr. Peter Hutchinson, policy adviser, to brief the committee on Mr. McCallister's Assembly and Executive Reform (Assembly Opposition) Bill.

Before inviting Mr. McCallister to make his presentation, I advise the witnesses that they are protected by absolute privilege in respect of utterances at this committee. However, if they are directed by the committee to cease making remarks on a particular matter and they continue to so do, they will be entitled thereafter only to qualified privilege in respect of their remarks. They are directed that only comments and evidence connected with the subject matter of this meeting are to be given, and they are asked to respect the parliamentary practice to the effect that, where possible, they should neither criticise nor make charges against a Member of either House of the Oireachtas, a person outside the Houses or an official by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.

I am delighted Mr. McCallister is here and I ask him to make his submission.