Gerard Craughwell (Independent) | Oireachtas source

On behalf of the special committee, I am pleased to welcome Mr. Kevin Toland, chief executive officer, Dublin Airport Authority, and Mr. Aidan Flynn, general manager, Freight Transport Association of Ireland, and their colleagues. The committee has already had a session on transport policy which we found extremely useful. Significant, practical issues emerged during our previous interaction on the issue and I am sure this discussion will be similarly interesting for all of us.

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 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.

I ask Mr. Toland to make his opening remarks.