Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

In the first session of today's meeting we will speak to Mr. Martin Murray of Asia Matters to discuss opportunities for trade with Asia post Brexit. This committee has had ongoing discussions with both the public and private sector on plans for trade following Britain's exit from the European Union. Today's meeting gives us the opportunity to hear about potential for trade with Asia, an area with a population of more than 2 billion people.

We will hear the opening statement from Mr. Murray before going into a question and answer session with the committee members. Before beginning, I remind members, witnesses and those in the Gallery to ensure their mobile phones are switched off completely for the duration of the meeting as they cause interference, even on silent mode, with the recording equipment in this committee room. I remind members of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that they should not comment on, criticise or make charges against a person or body outside the Houses or an official either by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it 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 the committee. If they are directed by it 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 or make charges against any person or entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable.