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

We will now continue our discussion on the regulation and control of the gambling sector. I welcome Dr. Crystal Fulton, associate professor at the school of information and communication studies at University College Dublin. I will shortly invite her to make her opening statement but first I must draw her attention as a witness to the situation regarding privilege. The same did not apply to the Minister of State because he is a Member. It applies to non-Members presenting before the committee. Witnesses are protected by absolute privilege in respect of the evidence they are to give to the committee. However, if they are directed by the committee to cease giving evidence on a particular matter and continue to do so, they are entitled thereafter only to 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 asked to respect the parliamentary practice to the effect that, where possible, they should not criticise or make charges against any person or persons or an entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable.

All that said, I invite Dr. Fulton to make her opening statement.