Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the witnesses from the Road Safety Authority, RSA, Ms Moyagh Murdock, chief executive, Mr. Liam Duggan and Ms Kathleen Callanan. Our discussions today follow on from an RTÉ report in September that cited RSA statistics which showed that more than half of all school buses, subject to road safety checks, had received failing grades over a 12 month period. The data released indicated that of the 873 buses tested, 445 had failed, 268 of which were operating with major defects and 37 of which had dangerous defects. The RSA data as reported are alarming and concerning. We welcome the opportunity, therefore, to explore these serious, important and urgent issues with the RSA.

School buses operated by dozens of private operators provide a particularly important service in rural areas where road conditions can be challenging. No bus should be operated on Ireland's roads in a dangerous condition. There have been some sad fatalities in the recent past and our sympathies go to the families of all those affected. It is an extremely serious issue and it has other implications for bus transport too because some of these service providers may operate outside of the bus transport school system on other routes.

By virtue by virtue of section 17(2)(l) of the Defamation Act 2009, witnesses are protected by absolute privilege in respect of the evidence they give to the committee. However, if they are directed by the committee to cease giving evidence in relation to a particular matter and they continue to so do, they are entitled thereafter only to a qualified privilege in respect of their evidence. Witnesses are directed that only evidence connected with the subject matter of these proceedings is to be given and they 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.

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

I invite Ms Murdock to make her opening statement.