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

I welcome Dr. Monika Bickert, vice president of content policy at Facebook; Mr. Jim Balsillie, chair of the Centre for International Governance Innovation; Mr. Marco Pancini, director of public policy at YouTube EMEA Google; Ms Karen White, director of public policy at Twitter; and Mr. Ronan Costello, public policy manager at Twitter.

I advise witnesses that by virtue of section 17(2)(l) of the Defamation Act 2009, they are protected by absolute privilege in respect of their evidence to the committee. If they are directed by the committee to cease giving evidence on a particular matter and they continue to do so, they are entitled thereafter only to a qualified privilege in respect of that 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 nor make charges against any person, persons, or entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable. Any submissions or opening statements made to the committee will be published on the committee website after the 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 House or an official by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.

I will give witnesses an indication when four minutes are up to let them know they have one minute left. We will start with Dr. Bickert.