Michael McNamara (Clare, Independent) | Oireachtas source

We are now back in public session. I would like to apologise for the fact that we overran slightly with Lord Sumption and Dr. Buquicchio of the Venice commission. I thank the witnesses very much for joining us. From the Bar of Ireland, I would like to welcome Ms Maura McNally SC, and chair of the council. On a personal basis I would like to congratulate you on your election as chair. I also welcome Mr. Joseph O'Sullivan, chair of the human rights committee of the Bar of Ireland. I welcome Ms Michele O'Boyle, president of the Law Society, and Mr. Ken Murphy, director general of the Law Society. From the Covid-19 law and human rights observatory of Trinity College, Dublin, I welcome Dr. David Kenny, assistant professor. I would like to welcome you all and thank you for your forbearance.

Before we commence the formal proceedings, I wish to advise the witnesses 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 this committee. If you are directed by the committee to cease giving evidence in relation to a particular matter, you must respect that direction. You are directed that only evidence connected with the subject matter of these proceedings is to be given, and you are asked to respect the parliamentary practice to the effect that, where possible, you should not criticise nor make charges against any person or entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable. Can I ask Ms McNally to make her opening statement and to limit it to five minutes, please.