Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I apologise to the invited speakers and the public for the delay but we had issues to discuss. I remind members, witnesses and persons in the Public Gallery to turn off their mobile telephones. The purpose of this meeting is to consider the report of the Moran inquiry into the receipt, distribution and sale of tickets at the Rio Olympic Games and related matters. This inquiry was ordered by the Minister, Deputy Shane Ross, and the report was published on Monday. In this regard, I welcome the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Shane Ross, and the Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport with responsibility for sport and tourism, Deputy Brendan Griffin, who is here for the first time in his capacity as Minister of State, having served as Chairman of the committee previously. I also welcome their officials.

By virtue of section 17(2)(l) of the Defamation Act 2009, witnesses are protected by absolute privilege in respect of the evidence they are to give to the joint committee. If, however, 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 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 also remind members 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.

A dark shadow has been cast over Ireland's participation in the Rio Olympic Games in 2016.The report very much confirms for all of us the worries and concerns highlighted by many of our athletes, their families and coaches and related sports bodies. At a time when Irish athletes should have been focused solely on performing to their maximum, having dedicated many years and their lives to their sport, the unrest and lack of organisation and professionalism as identified in the report were hugely damaging. Having spoken to members of the public, it is my wish that the outcome of our deliberations will be that in the future procedures will be in place to ensure accountability and that these events will never happen again and that, if public money is spent on athletes, their families and those involved in their sports will not be placed at a disadvantage as a result of commercial decisions taken.

I invite the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Shane Ross, to make his opening statement.