Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The purpose of today's meeting is to conduct detailed scrutiny of the Civil Liability (Amendment) (Prevention of Benefits from Homicide) Bill 2017 sponsored by Deputy O'Callaghan, a member of this committee. I welcome from AdVIC Mr. Noel Byrne, member, and Ms Helen Doyle, secretary. They are accompanied by our Oireachtas colleague, Senator Marie Louise O'Donnell, who is a patron of AdVIC. She is very welcome. We are also joined by Professor John Mee of University College Cork. We have had witnesses from UCC over the past three sessions of our committee. We are putting the blame on Deputy Ó Laoghaire. This Cork influence is very strong. I will shortly invite the witnesses to make their opening statements in the order in which I have introduced them.

I draw the attention of witnesses to the fact that 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 so do, 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, 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 a person outside the House or an official either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.

I welcome our guests in the Gallery. I invite Deputy O'Callaghan to make his opening statement on the Bill.