Kathleen Funchion (Carlow-Kilkenny, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I welcome our witnesses to the committee today: Ms Anne Cadwallader from the Pat Finucane Centre; Ms Margaret Urwin from Justice for the Forgotten; and Mr. Mike Ritchie and Mr. Paul Butler from Relatives for Justice. I thank all the representatives for being here today. This is the first in a series of meetings regarding legacy issues. I also welcome those persons in the Public Gallery who have joined us. I will ask Ms Cadwallader to start and we will then move to Ms Irwin, Mr. Butler and Mr. Ritchie. We will then take questions from members.

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 or body outside the Houses or an official either by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it 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 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.

I invite Ms Cadwallader to make her opening statement.