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

The purpose of today’s meeting is the committee’s consideration of the BusConnects core bus corridors project. I welcome our witnesses, Ms Anne Graham, chief executive officer, and Mr. Hugh Creegan, deputy chief executive, of the National Transport Authority.

For the purpose of the witnesses attending, in accordance with procedure, I am required to read the following notice. 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 the committee to cease giving evidence on a particular matter and they continue to do so, they are entitled thereafter to only 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, persons 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 either a person outside the Houses or an official either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.

I invite Ms. Anne Graham, chief executive officer of the National Transport Authority, to make her opening statement.