Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent) | Oireachtas source

On behalf of the committee, I welcome H.E. Mr. Dušan Matulay, who is the ambassador of Slovakia to Ireland. He is accompanied by Mr. Roman Goga and Mr. Dušan Tomasta from the Slovak Embassy. I sincerely thank them for coming here today. The members of the committee and I extend a warm welcome to them. I thank them for meeting us today to discuss the priorities of the Slovak Presidency of the Council of the EU.

I want to read a brief privilege notice before we begin. Members are reminded of a long-standing parliamentary practice or long-standing ruling of the Chair to the effect that they should not comment on, criticise or make charges against a person outside the House or an official by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable. By virtue of section 17(2)(l) of the Defamation Act 2009, witnesses are protected by absolute privilege in respect of the evidence they give to the committee. 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 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. They are asked to respect the parliamentary practice to the effect that, where possible, they should not criticise or make charges against any person or entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable. I invite the ambassador to make his opening remarks.