Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent) | Oireachtas source

We have a quorum and we can begin. The committee is in public session. We have no apologies. I remind members to switch phones off if at all possible.

Today we have an engagement with a delegation from the European Committee of the Regions, led by the President of the committee, Mr. Karl-Heinz Lambertz. I want to take this opportunity to wish all of the witnesses a very warm welcome. We are glad you were able to be here with us today.

This is concerning continued engagement with key stakeholders which is really important to this committee and to the Houses of the Oireachtas. We try hard to find a way to have that engagement, we are delighted that you were in a position to accept our invitation and we have been looking forward to this engagement. The European Committee of the Regions is a body that is not well known to everyone. I think that is a pity and we should do something about it. As one of the two European advisory bodies and the one that has specific remit to consider regional interests, impacts and cross-border issues, I think that is hugely important. We particularly appreciate the cross-party nature of the delegation which includes the senior leaders of all the political parties represented in the Committee of the Regions. There are many things we could discuss; I know how much work the committee has been doing on Brexit and its impact on the regions and am aware it only last week passed an interesting resolution which specifically called for the Good Friday Agreement not to be jeopardised. Today marks 20 years since the referendum on the Good Friday Agreement in Northern Ireland and the simultaneous referendum to amend the Constitution in Ireland. I welcome that commitment in particular.

I welcome all members of the delegation. President Lambertz will make an opening statement and then I propose that we take questions and comments from the members of this joint committee and the visiting delegation alternating between the two in an informal way. It will be something that everybody is comfortable with and that works. Before the President begins his opening statements I have to remind everyone of the rules on privilege in this Parliament.

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. 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 joint committee. However, if they are directed by it to cease giving evidence on a particular matter and continue to do so, 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.

I invite Mr. Lambertz to make his opening statement.