Michael McNamara (Clare, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Those are the Deputy's words, not mine. We are joined this afternoon by officials from the Departments of Foreign Affairs and Health and the National Transport Authority, NTA, to deal with travel restrictions. I welcome Mr. Niall Burgess, Secretary General, and Dr. Ann Derwin, director general, global Irish services, Department of Foreign Affairs. I thank them for joining us.

Mr. Jim Breslin, Secretary General, Department of Health will be in committee room 1. He joined us for the previous session and I thank him for joining us for a second session today. He is accompanied by Mr. Colm Ó Conaill, principal officer, Department of Health. I also welcome Ms Anne Graham, CEO, and Mr. Tim Gaston, director of public transport services, NTA.

I wish to advise the 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 this committee. If they are directed by the committee to cease giving evidence in relation to a particular matter and continue to do so, 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 or entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable.

While we expect witnesses to answer questions asked by the committee clearly and with candour, they can and should also expect to be treated fairly and with respect and consideration at all times in accordance with the witness protocol.

I ask any witnesses who wish to raise any issues in that regard to do so. I ask all the witnesses to confine their opening remarks to five minutes because we are very constrained on time. Can we have Mr. Breslin's opening remarks, please?