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

We are resumed in public session. On behalf of the committee, I welcome Dr. Geoffrey Shannon, special rapporteur on child protection, to address the issue of the Data Protection Bill 2017. Dr. Shannon is our final witness in this series of hearings and is very welcome. On behalf of the committee, I thank him for his attendance and for the submission of his very detailed pre-notice document, which has been circulated to all the members. The witness will be invited to make a brief address and that will be followed by an exchange of questions and answers with the members.

Before we begin, I must draw the witness's attention to the situation around privilege. I think he is familiar with the procedure. Witnesses are protected by absolute privilege in respect of their evidence to the committee. If witnesses are directed by the committee to cease giving evidence on a particular matter and they continue to do so, they are entitled thereafter only to a qualified privilege in respect of their evidence. Witnesses are directed that only evidence connected with 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, or persons or entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable.

I invite Dr. Shannon to make his opening statement.