Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The purpose of our engagement this morning is to resume our consideration of the issues of community policing and rural crime. We are joined this morning for, to my knowledge, only the second time ever by a senior representative of the Police Service of Northern Ireland, PSNI, the last time being in 2006 in, I understand, the context of the Barron report. Therefore, I extend a special welcome to Mr. Alan Todd, assistant chief constable with responsibility for district policing command and rural regions operational support. I hope I have got all of that right. From An Garda Síochána, I welcome Mr. Pat Leahy, assistant commissioner in the Dublin metropolitan region with responsibility for community engagement and public safety. I indicated to Mr. Michael Finn, assistant commissioner for the south-east region, that he almost has his own chair here at the Committee on Justice and Equality. He is welcome back. I understand that he is joined in the Public Gallery by Sergeant Damien Hogan.

The witnesses are welcome. I invite them to make their opening statements in the order in which I introduced them. Before opening up the opportunity to them to address us and for members' questions to follow, I must first remind them of the position regarding privilege. They should please note that they are protected by absolute privilege in respect of the evidence they are to give to the committee. However, if they are directed by the committee to cease giving evidence in respect of a particular matter and they continue to do so, 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 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.

I invite Mr. Todd to make his opening statement.