Joe O'Reilly (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Today we have a series of engagements looking at the implication of the UK's withdrawal for the relationship between this State and Northern Ireland. Almost immediately after the vote, this emerged as an issue which would be of central importance to Ireland and how Brexit would work. It is core to how a significant number of citizens live their lives daily. It will also be a key part of the future relationship of the State with its closest neighbour. A number of witnesses we have had before us have referred to and made comments on this. The witnesses today will obviously add to the picture. We are trying to complete the picture as we move towards our final report. On behalf of the committee I welcome representatives from the Border Communities Against Brexit group, Mr. Damian McGenity, Mr. JJ O'Hara and Mr. John Sheridan, to our meeting today.

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. By virtue of section 17(2)(l) of the Defamation Act 2009, witnesses are protected by absolute privilege in respect of their evidence to this committee. If they are directed by the committee to cease giving evidence in relation to 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 nor make charges against any person, persons or entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her, or it identifiable.

With all of this out of the way, I invite the witnesses to make their opening remarks. They can decide the order in which they will speak. We will hear all of the opening remarks after which we will have questions in batches.