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

This is the fourth session of the International Grand Committee on Disinformation and 'Fake News'. I welcome Mr. Rogier Huizenga, human rights programme manager, Inter-Parliamentary Union; Mr. Adrian Lovett, chief executive officer, Web Foundation, and director of policy, Ms Áine Kerr, co-founder and chief operations office, Kinzen Limited; Mr. Frane Maroevic, director of the content and jurisdiction programme, Internet and Jurisdiction Policy Network and Lorna Woods, professor of Internet law, University of Essex.

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 now invite Mr. Huizenga to make his opening statement.