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

The purpose of this part of the meeting is to continue our scrutiny of the general scheme of the communications data retention Bill, 2017. I welcome Mr. TJ McIntyre, law lecturer in UCD and chairman of Digital Rights Ireland, DRI and Mr. Simon McGarr, solicitor. Both witnesses are welcome. They will be invited to make a brief opening statement to be followed by a questions and answers session. Before we begin, I am obliged to advise the witnesses of the situation with regard to privilege. Witnesses are protected by absolute privilege in respect of the evidence they are to give to the committee. However, if they are directed by the committee 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 nor make charges against any person, persons or entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable. Members of the committee know the rules already.

I will now proceed speedily and invite Mr. McIntyre to address the committee.