Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

To the second session of today's proceedings, I welcome the Minister of State at the Department of Finance, Deputy Michael D'Arcy, Mr. Gary Tobin, assistant secretary in the Department of Finance, Dr. Eoin O'Dell, associate professor at the school of law, Trinity College, Dublin, and Ms Hazel Tunney, qualified Irish and European trademark and design attorney. From Bishopstown community school, County Cork, I welcome Mr. Alain Newstead, a student, Mr. John Cottrell, a member of the school student council, and Ms Denise Dowling, a teacher, and they will be assisted by Irish Sign Language interpreters, Darren Burke and Cormac Leonard. From Eureka secondary school, County Meath, we are joined by Ms Alex Martin and Ms Emily-Jo White, who are both transition year students, and Mr. Stephen McKee and Ms Danielle O'Reilly, both teachers. They are most welcome and we thank them for engaging with the committee in its consideration of this important topic. As Irish Sign Language interpreters are covering the proceedings, I ask contributors to be clear, distinct and allow time for them to get the message across.

Before we begin, I must draw witnesses' attention to the following procedural matters. I wish to draw their 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. Witnesses 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, her or it identifiable. I also wish to advise the witnesses that any opening statements they have made to the committee will be published on its website after this meeting.

To begin, I will invite Senator Mark Daly to make a few introductory remarks before inviting each witness to make a short presentation. Witnesses may share their time with a colleague if they so wish and they should please indicate this to me when they are invited to speak. As there are a large number of witnesses in this session, I would ask that presenters keep their opening statements as brief as possible.