Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent) | Oireachtas source

We will resume with our engagement on the future of Europe with His Excellency, Mr. Stéphane Crouzat, the ambassador of France to Ireland. I welcome His Excellency to the committee. Ambassador Crouzat presented his credentials only last month so, on behalf of the committee, I am delighted to welcome him to Ireland. I had the privilege of meeting him a number of weeks ago and I enjoyed our engagement that day very much. It was very practical, sensible and informative, and we got to know each other very well. I thank him and his secretariat for their time that day. All EU member states are equal. While we all need an equal voice in this debate, President Macron has made some interesting interventions recently, so we are very interested to hear Mr. Crouzat's presentation. Before we proceed with the ambassador's opening statement, I wish to remind everyone briefly again of the rules on privilege in this Parliament.

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 Houses or an official either by name or in such a way as to make him or her 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 this committee. If they 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. They 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 entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable.

I welcome the ambassador again and invite him to make his opening statement.