John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

From the National Development Managers Network, I welcome Mr. Tomás Lally, development manager, Mayo Citizens Information Service; Ms Orla Barry, development manager, Sligo Citizens Information Service; and Sinéad Conefrey, development manager, Leitrim Citizens Information Service. From the National Association of Citizens Information Services, I welcome Mr. Michael McGuane, chairperson, and Mr. Joe Rynn, project manager. I will invite both bodies to make their opening statements. Members will then be invited to address their questions to them. I remind members to confine their initial round of questions to five minutes. They will have an opportunity to ask supplementary questions.

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 committee. However, if they are directed by it to cease giving evidence on a particular matter and continue to do so, they are entitled thereafter only to 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 asked to respect the parliamentary practice to the effect that, where possible, they should not criticise or make charges against any person or an entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable. The opening statements submitted to the committee will be published on its website after the meeting.

Members are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that they should not comment on, criticise or make charges against a person outside the Houses or an official, either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.

I remind members and delegates to turn off their mobile phones or switch them to flight mode as they cause interference not just with the proceedings of the meeting but also with the sound system.

I invite Mr. Lally to make his opening statement.