Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I apologise for the late start to the session. It is my fault. We listened to everybody in the last session and ensured we heard them all. I appreciate that we ate into the time that had been given for this session's witnesses, who are very welcome. I remind members, witnesses and those in the Public Gallery to turn off their mobile phones completely, please, as they interfere with the recording equipment.

Cuirim fáilte roimh na finnéithe nua atá againn. From the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport we have Ms Deirdre Hanlon, assistant secretary; Mr. Ray O’Leary, assistant secretary; Mr. Garret Doocey, principal officer; and Ms Lorraine McGurk, assistant principal officer. We also have from the National Transport Authority, NTA, Ms Anne Graham, CEO and Mr. Hugh Creegan, deputy CEO.

Before we commence, I have to read a statutory notice, which I am sure the witnesses have heard many times before. By virtue of section 17(2)(l) of the Defamation Act 2009, 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 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.

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 also remind members that we have to leave the room by 1.15 p.m. That is our deadline for leaving. I apologise again to our witnesses for the delay.

Before we start, when we had representatives of the different cycling bodies here, I said that I would ask both the Department and the NTA to arrange to meet regularly the people we have named here to discuss the issues that arise. Their bodies are genuine and they have a lot of experience and some very good ideas. They also have significant concerns and criticisms. We would like to establish a formal forum where the State agencies can meet representatives of these bodies to listen to their views and, if at all possible, implement them. I take it that it will be in order to do that. I see the witnesses nodding their heads.