Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the officials from the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment to the meeting to discuss the national broadband plan. They are Mr. Mark Griffin, Secretary General; Mr. Ciarán Ó hÓbáin, assistant secretary; Mr. Fergal Mulligan, programme director of the national broadband plan; Mr. Patrick Neary, chief technical officer; Ms Orla Ryan, principal officer in the national broadband plan division; and Ms Ciara Kennedy, assistant principal officer in the national broadband plan division.

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 Chairman 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.

Any submission or opening statements that witnesses have made to the committee will be published on the committee website after this meeting.

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 remind members to turn off their mobile phones. I invited Mr. Mark Griffin to make his opening statement.