Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I remind members, witnesses and people in the Visitors Gallery to ensure their mobile phones are switched off or in flight mode for the duration of this meeting as they interfere with the broadcasting equipment, even when on silent mode. Before we commence I wish to draw the attention of the witnesses that by virtue of section 17(2)(l) of the Defamation Act 2009, they are protected by absolute privilege in respect of their evidence to this committee. However, if they are directed by the committee to cease giving evidence on 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, her or it identifiable.

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 House or an official either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.

Before proceeding to the next item on the agenda I wish to record the decision taken by the committee on EU legislative proposals. The committee agreed COM (2017) 795 warrants further scrutiny. It is also proposed to request a further note from the Department outlining in greater detail the possible subsidiarity concerns surrounding the European Product Compliance Network, if it is envisaged that the proposal will have a financial implication for Ireland, the extent to which statutory instruments may be required, what option referred to in Article 14(2) of the proposal is in use in Ireland, and if it will have any impact on the effectiveness of the proposal in Ireland. The committee agreed that COM (2017) 796 does not warrant further scrutiny.

We will now deal with further scrutiny of COM (2017) 142, a proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council to empower the competition authorities of the member states to be more effective enforcers and to ensure the proper functioning of the Internal Market. I welcome Mr. Kieran Grace, principal officer, Ms Colette Reilly, assistant principal and Mr. Sean Smith, higher executive officer, from the competition and consumer policy section of the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation and Ms Isolde Goggin, chairperson, of the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, Mr. Patrick Kenny, member of the commission and Ms Úna Butler, director of legal services. I thank the witnesses for the briefing material they provided to the committee and I now invite Mr. Grace to make his opening statement.