Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Good afternoon everyone. This is my first time to chair the committee as Vice Chairman and I am delighted to get the opportunity and privilege to do so. We have received apologies from the Chairperson, Deputy Smyth and from Deputy Munster. I remind members and witnesses to turn off their mobile phones or to switch them to flight mode as they interfere with the sound system and make it difficult for the parliamentary reporters to report the meeting. Television and web streaming will also be adversely affected.

On behalf of the committee, I welcome Ms Angela Dorgan from the National Campaign for the Arts, NCFA, along with her two colleagues from its steering group, Mr. Cian O’Brien and Ms Liv O’Donoghue, who will be joining the team remotely via MS Teams.

I invite Ms Dorgan to make an opening statement which will be followed by a discussion with members and the committee. Ms Dorgan will note that the committee may publish the opening statement on its website following 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 either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.

Witnesses are reminded 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. If they are directed by the committee to cease giving evidence on a particular matter, that direction must be respected. 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.