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

I ask everybody to switch off their mobile phones as they interfere with the recording apparatus in the committee rooms.

The purpose of today's meeting is to conclude our pre-legislative scrutiny of the general scheme of the communications (data retention) Bill 2017. I welcome from the Irish Council for Civil Liberties, ICCL, Mr. Liam Herrick, executive director; Ms Elizabeth Farries, information rights project manager; and Ms Maeve O’Rourke, senior research and policy analyst. We are also joined by Mr. Seamus Dooley, Irish secretary of National Union of Journalists. I thank them all for their attendance today to discuss this important legislation. Both groups will be invited to make an opening statement to be followed by a question and answer session.

Before we begin, I draw witnesses' attention to the situation regarding privilege. You are protected by absolute privilege in respect of the evidence you are to give this committee. If you are directed by the committee to cease giving evidence in relation to a particular matter and you continue to so do, you are entitled thereafter to only a qualified privilege in respect of your evidence. You are directed that only evidence connected with the subject matter of these proceedings is to be given and you are asked to respect the parliamentary practice to the effect that, where possible, you should not criticise or make charges against any persons or entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable. Members should be aware that under the Salient Rulings of the Chair, Members should not comment on, criticise or make charges against a person outside the House, or any official by name in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.

I invite Mr. Herrick to make the opening remarks on behalf of the ICCL and I will then invite Mr. Dooley to make his opening statement at which point will offer members the opportunity to ask questions.