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

I thank Deputy Rock for asking for this matter to discussed at the committee with the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport and the Road Safety Authority.

It is important that we are going to have this discussion. I remind everybody to turn off their phones. From the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, I welcome Mr. Ray O'Leary, Ms Mary Lally and Ms Lorraine Maher. From the Road Safety Authority, I welcome Ms Moyagh Murdock, CEO, Ms Sharon Heffernan and Mr. Aidan McGinty. There is a Drogheda man down the back, Mr. Brian Farrell of the Road Safety Authority. I am sure he will not mind me mentioning him because I sat beside his father in school for a number of years. The late Peter Farrell was a good friend of mine. I am sorry, it was his uncle Peter. Peter and I were very good at doing Latin together. We used to be most efficient.

I draw the attention of witnesses to the fact that 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 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 House or an official either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.

I invite the officials from the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport to make their opening statement.