Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I remind members to ensure their mobile phones are switched off. This is important as they cause serious problems for the broadcasting, editorial and sound staff.

We will have an engagement via video conference with MEPs elected from constituencies in Ireland. I am delighted to welcome the new and returning MEPs from constituencies in Ireland, including Northern Ireland. I congratulate each and every one of them on his or her recent election to the European Parliament and wish him or her the very best of luck in his or her new term.

The European Parliament plays a vital role in representing citizens. The committee has a strong appreciation of the role played by MEPs. We very much value their insight into and expertise in dealing with European issues. This opportunity to engage with them is very important. I am delighted to pilot this way of engaging with them. We are very interested in hearing about their priorities, the work they have started since the elections, the priorities of the committees of which they are members in getting ready for the Commissioner hearings and how the European Parliament considers the state of play on Brexit which, as we all know, is changing not by the hour but by the half hour. This is the first of what I hope will be many engagements between Members in Dublin and MEPs in Brussels and Strasbourg via video link.

Members are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that they should not comment on, criticise or make charges against any person outside the Houses or an official, either by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable.

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. If they are directed by it to cease giving evidence on a particular matter and continue to do so, they are only entitled thereafter to qualified privilege in respect of their evidence. They are directed that only evidence concerned 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 entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable.

As I said to members before the start of the public session, the meeting will work best if we manage to have an open discussion. I do not want it to be rigid in the sense that we hear first from the MEPs and then have members ask questions. I want it to be more fluid as we all know one another.

On a personal note, to the MEPs in Brussels, some of whom are newly elected, while others have represented us ably in the past, I say I have no doubt that the people we send to Brussels from whatever political party and none are extremely experienced politicians. They started at what I call the grassroots level of politics and worked their way up. They are now our public representatives in Brussels. I am very proud of each and every one of them following his or her election. I know that they will do their level best to represent all of us to the very best of their ability. This is what I call a friendly committee in that we very much work together and have done so for a number of years. We thank the MEPs for giving of their time.

We will start with questions from the Vice Chairman, Senator Leyden.