Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Apologies have been received from Deputies Cathal Crowe and Duncan Smith and Senator Ned O'Sullivan.

The purpose of our meeting is to discuss customs checks post Brexit. On behalf of the committee, I welcome Mr. Eugene Drennan, president, Irish Road Haulage Association, IRHA; Mr. Gerry Harrahill, director general, customs division, and Ms Celine O'Neill, Brexit policy branch, Revenue Commissioners; Mr. Eoin Gavin, vice president, and Mr. Ian Barrett, director, Shannon Chamber of Commerce; and Mr. Paul Savage, assistant secretary, international trade and Brexit division, and Ms Hazel Sheridan, head of operations, Dublin Port, Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. I thank them all for facilitating this meeting at such short notice in these extraordinary Covid times. In particular, I thank the departmental officials for attending as we only issued the invitation yesterday afternoon.

All witnesses are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that they 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, or otherwise engage in speech that might be regarded as damaging to the good name of the person or entity. Therefore, if the statements are potentially defamatory, in relation to an identifiable person or entity, the witnesses will be directed to discontinue their remarks. It is imperative that witnesses comply with any such direction.

For witnesses attending remotely outside of the Leinster House campus, there are some limitations to parliamentary privilege and as such they may not benefit from the same level of immunity from legal proceedings as enjoyed by witnesses who are physically present. The witnesses participating in this committee session who are from a jurisdiction outside of this State are advised that they should also be mindful of their domestic law and how it may apply to evidence they give.

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 also remind members that they are only allowed to participate in this meeting if they are physically located on the Leinster House campus. In this regard, I ask all members that prior to them making their contribution to the meeting to confirm that they are on the grounds of the Leinster House campus.

For anyone watching this meeting online, Oireachtas members and witnesses are accessing this meeting remotely. Only I, as Chair, and the necessary staff essential to the running of this meeting are physically present in the committee room. Due to these unprecedented Covid circumstances, and the large number of people attending the meeting remotely, I ask that everyone bears with us if technical issues arise.

This is a two-hour meeting based on Covid limitation. I advise the witnesses that we have assigned five minutes for statements. I ask them to keep to that and if their statements are longer, to give a summarised version.

I call Mr. Drennan to make his opening statement.