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

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 the Chairman 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 also advise that any submission or opening statement made to the committee will be published on its web page after the 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 and delegates to turn off their mobile phones or switch them to flight mode. Mobile phones interfere with the sound system and make it difficult for the parliamentary reporters to report the proceedings the meeting. Also, television coverage and web streaming will be adversely affected.

I welcome our two witnesses, Ms Niamh Sweeney, head of public policy at Facebook Ireland, and Ms Siobhán Cummiskey, Facebook's head of content policy for Europe, the Middle East and Africa. I invite Ms Sweeney to make her opening statement.