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

I have received apologies from Seanadóir Ó Céidigh, who will not be here today. He has provided a letter regarding some issues. I will raise it later as it is not germane to our debate this morning.

The purpose of this morning's meeting is to resume our consideration of the report of Mr. Justice Moran into the receipt, distribution and sale of tickets at the Rio Olympic Games and related matters. This review was ordered by the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Ross, and the report was published on Monday.

Members will be fully aware of the circumstances in which we adjourned our meeting yesterday and in this regard I would like to wish our clerk a speedy recovery and thank all the members and the Ministers and their officials for their co-operation in scheduling this meeting. Accordingly, I welcome again the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Shane Ross, and the Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Brendan Griffin, and officials from that Department. They are very welcome.

Deputy O'Keeffe was asking questions of the Minister yesterday when we adjourned, so I propose that the Deputy continues his questioning and then the Minister can respond to the issues raised by Deputies Troy and O'Keeffe before we move on to other matters.

Under 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 the committee to cease giving evidence on a particular matter and they 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 with the subject matter of these proceedings is to be given and they 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.

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 House or an official either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.