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

No. 3 is consideration of the OECD report, Driving Performance at Ireland's Commission for Regulation of Utilities.

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, however, they are directed by the Chairman 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 an entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable. Any submission or opening statement 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 remind members to turn off their mobile phones because they interfere with the sound system.

I welcome our witnesses. I propose that the main witnesses will speak for no more than five minutes each. If they wish to share time, they should indicate that to me at the outset. The presentations will be followed by a question-and-answer session. Dr. McGowan will start. He is the chairperson and commissioner of the Commission for Regulation of Utilities. He has five minutes.