Neale Richmond (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We are now back in public session. After a morning discussing health and social issues we are moving back to one of our all-island bodies that was unable to join us at the previous session. We are delighted, however, that they could come in today to talk about an issue that got a lot of headline coverage yesterday from some of our speakers so we look forward to further engagement. I am delighted to welcome both of our guests from Tourism Ireland. Before I invite them to make their opening remarks I will read out the standard note on privilege.

Members are reminded of the longstanding parliamentary practice to the effect that members 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 them 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 on a particular matter and 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 to the subject matter of these proceedings is to be given, and 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.

With that out of the way, I invite Mr. Niall Gibbons to make his remarks.