Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The purpose of this evening's meeting is to engage with the chairperson designate of Bord na Móna in order to discuss the approach Mr. Geoffrey Meagher proposes to take if and when appointed to the role and his views on the challenges currently facing that body.

Members are aware of the Government's decision of May 2011 which put new arrangements in place for the appointment of persons to State boards and bodies. Reference to this arrangement is also made in the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform guidelines on appointments to State boards of November 2014. The 2016 Programme for a Partnership Government suggests that nominees for chairs of State boards will be required to engage with the relevant Oireachtas committee prior to their appointment. The committee welcomes the opportunity to meet with the chairperson designate in public session to hear his views and we trust that this provides greater transparency to the process of appointment to our State boards and bodies. On behalf of the committee I would like to welcome Mr. Meagher here this evening.

I have to read out some formal notices. I wish to draw the witnesses' attention to the fact that 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. However, if they are directed by the Chairman to cease giving evidence in relation to 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 or her identifiable.

I wish to advise that any submissions or opening statements the witnesses have made to the committee will be published on the committee website after this meeting.

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.

I ask members and witnesses to switch off their mobile phones or turn them onto flight mode.

I call on Mr. Meagher to make his presentation to the committee.