Neale Richmond (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome Professor Christopher McCrudden to the final session of a very productive day's work on North-South relations. We are delighted to be able to glean from his expertise and we will have a full engagement after his opening remarks. Before I invite Professor McCrudden to make his opening statement, he might bear with me as I read the notice on privilege. 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.

I now invite Professor McCrudden to make his opening remarks.