Terry Leyden (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I remind members to put mobile phones on silent or airplane mode.

On behalf of the committee, I welcome Mr. Gerry Kiely, head of representation of the European Commission Representation in Ireland, and Mr. Andy Klom to our meeting to discuss the 2018 state of the Union address and all that flows from it. As members will be aware, President Juncker's address is the first in an annual legislative and policy process so it is much more important than just a speech. It is the European Commission's plan for the year ahead, and it is likely to be a very busy and important year. It will be a European Parliament election year and President Juncker's last year as President of the Commission.

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.

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. If they are directed by the committee to cease giving evidence on 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 they are 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. They are well aware of their responsibilities in this regard.

I ask Mr. Kiely to make his opening remarks before I open the floor to questions and comments from our colleagues.