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

I welcome our guests, Mr. Mark Bassett and Professor Colin Harvey. They will address our meeting today on the topic of voting rights. We will invite both witnesses to give their opening statements and then we will take some questions from the committee. Before we begin, I remind members of the committee, guests and those in the Visitors Gallery to ensure that their mobile phones, tablets and any other electronic devices are switched off completely for the duration of the meeting as they cause interference with the recording equipment in the committee rooms, even when they are on silent mode.

With regard to privilege, I remind members of the longstanding parliamentary practice to the effect that members should not comment on, criticise or make charges against either a person outside the Houses or an official either 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 committee. However, if they are directed by the Chairman to cease giving evidence on 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 and they are asked to respect the parliamentary practice to the effect that, where possible, they should not criticise or make charges against any person, persons or entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable.

Both witnesses are very welcome. I believe Mr. Bassett will speak first.