Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Apologies have been received from Deputy Clare Daly and Senator Frances Black. I ask everyone present to switch off their mobile phones because such devices can interfere with the sound recording system. The purpose of today's meeting is to continue our pre-legislative scrutiny of the general scheme of the Data Protection Bill 2017. I welcome Mr. Denis Kelleher, who is a barrister and author on data protection law in Ireland. On behalf of the committee, I thank him for his attendance at today's meeting to discuss this important legislation. The format of the meeting is that I will invite Mr. Kelleher to make an opening statement, to be followed by a question and answer session with the members of the committee.

Before we begin, I want to draw Mr. Kelleher's attention to the situation in relation to privilege.

Witnesses are protected by absolute privilege in respect of the evidence they are to give 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.

Members should be aware that, under the salient rulings of the Chair, 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.

I invite Mr. Kelleher to make his opening statement.