Paudie Coffey (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am delighted to and happily step in as Acting Chairman. The Chairman, Deputy Carey, is actually in the United Kingdom on Oireachtas business. He is with the delegation to the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly.

I remind members, delegates and those in the Visitors Gallery 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 of the meeting. Television, radio, Internet streaming and Internet protocol television, IPTV, coverage of the meeting can also be adversely affected.

The purpose of the meeting is to engage with officials from the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport on the matter of regional and rural transport policy. I extend a warm welcome to our guests, Ms Deirdre Hanlon, assistant secretary with responsibility for public transport, sustainability and climate change; Mr. Kevin Doyle, principal officer with responsibility for public transport and corporate services; Mr. Garret Doocey, principal officer with responsibility for public transport investment, and Mr. Dominic Mullaney, principal adviser on roads policy.

It is proposed that the opening statement and any other document supplied by the officials to the committee will be published on its website after the meeting. Is that agreed? Agreed.

Following the meeting the committee will meet for a short time in private session. Is that agreed? Agreed.

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. 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.