Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome Professor Ronan McNulty from UCD; Dr. Sheila Gilheany, policy officer, Institute of Physics in Ireland; Mr. Ed Hendrick, CEO, Sonru; Professor Brendan McClean, St. Luke's Radiation Oncology Network, Rathgar; Professor Val O'Shea, Physics Department, University of Glasgow; and Professor Sinead Ryan, School of Mathematics, Trinity College Dublin to discuss possible opportunities for scientific and economic advantage to Ireland by joining CERN.

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

I remind our guests that the presentation, a copy of which has been circulated to members, should be no more than ten minutes and the presentation. I call Professor McNulty.