John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome Ms Tara Buckley, director general of RGDATA. I remind members and witnesses to please turn off their mobile phones as they interfere with the sound transmission quality.

I advise witnesses that, by virtue of section 17(2)(l) of the Defamation Act 2009, they 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 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. 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 persons or entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable.

I invite Ms Buckley to make her opening statement.