Kathleen Funchion (Carlow-Kilkenny, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The committee will today continue its consideration of the implications of Brexit for the Good Friday Agreement and its institutions. I am very pleased to welcome our witnesses today. They are Dr. Conor Patterson, chief executive of Newry and Mourne Enterprise Agency; Mr. Peter Conway, CEO of Warrenpoint Harbour; and Mr. Michael Blaney, managing director of Autoline Insurance Group. I will invite the witnesses to give their opening statement and then we will take questions and answers.

I will begin by going through some procedural things. I remind members, guests and those in the Public Gallery to ensure their mobile phones, iPhones, Blackberrys and anything electronic are switched off completely or on airplane mode for the duration of the meeting as they cause interference even if they are on silent. They cause interference with the recording equipment in the committee rooms so I ask everyone to co-operate. Those present should refrain from switching phones on and off because that can also interfere with the sound equipment for several minutes at a time.

I need to go through the notice on privilege for our witnesses. I remind members of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that they should not comment on, criticise or make charges against a person or body outside the Houses, 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 their evidence to the joint committee. However, if they are directed by the committee to cease giving evidence in respect of a particular matter and they continue to do so, they are entitled thereafter only to a qualified privilege in respect of their evidence. Witnesses 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 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.

On behalf of the committee, I am pleased to welcome our witnesses today. We will take evidence from Dr. Conor Patterson first.