Maria Bailey (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

At the request of the broadcasting and recording services, members and visitors in the Public Gallery are requested to ensure that, for the duration of the meeting, their mobile phones are turned off completely or switched to airplane, safe or flight mode, depending on their device. It is not sufficient to switch phones to silent mode because this will maintain a level of interference with the broadcasting system.

No. 8 on the agenda is detailed scrutiny of the Local Government (Restoration of Town Councils) Bill 2018. On behalf of the committee, I welcome Deputy Brendan Howlin, Dr. Aodh Quinlivan from UCC, Mr. Pio Smith and Ms Marie Maloney. I apologise to the witnesses for delaying them. The previous part of the meeting ran an hour over schedule which is quite normal for this committee.

Before we begin, 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 Houses or an official either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.

I call on Deputy Howlin to make his opening statement.