John Lahart (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I wish to welcome the following representatives from Transport Infrastructure Ireland: Mr. Michael Nolan, chief executive; Mr. Nigel O'Neill, director, commercial operations; Mr. Peter Walsh, director, capital programme; and Mr. Pat Maher, director, network management.

I am sitting in for the Chairman, Deputy John Paul Phelan. The delegates are very welcome. They have been asked to give evidence to help the committee in its review of the capital plan. Before we begin, I remind members and delegates to turn off their mobile phones as they interfere with the sound quality of the transmission of the proceedings.

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 so do, 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.

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 invite Mr. Michael Nolan to make his opening statement. When he has concluded, I will call on the various spokespersons to make their comments.