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

Apologies have been received from Colum Eastwood MP. Members of the Oireachtas are attending this meeting remotely from their offices within the Leinster House complex. It is not possible for them to participate remotely from outside the Leinster House campus.

If there is unwanted microphone feedback, it may be necessary for me to ask participants to mute their microphone. The person speaking may unmute his or her microphone. I ask that participants keep their microphone on mute unless they are making a contribution.

The meeting is being held in the Seanad Chamber. We have a difficulty in that we do not have the capacity to have a private session today, so all our business must be conducted in public. There are some administrative issues and correspondence which we can discuss at the end of the public session, even though we will still be in public session at that time.

As regards the rotation of members, I wish to be as fair as I can to everybody. I appreciate we have a two-hour session, at the end of which we are obliged to cease our work. If it is in order, I ask the parties to nominate their speakers. I will begin with Sinn Féin, followed by Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, the SDLP, Alliance Party and DUP members who are present, and then the Green Party, the Labour Party and other members of the committee. I wish to be flexible in terms of time because this is a very important meeting. If there are no views to the contrary, we will go ahead with that approach.

Our engagement today is with Professor Colin Harvey of Queen's University Belfast and Mr. Mark Bassett, barrister at law, to discuss their paper The EU and Irish Unity: Planning and Preparing for Constitutional Change and related issues. On behalf of the committee, I welcome them both to the meeting.

The evidence of witnesses physically present or who give evidence from within the parliamentary precincts is protected pursuant to both the Constitution and statute by absolute privilege. However, witnesses and participants who are to give evidence from a location outside the parliamentary precincts are asked to note that they may not benefit from the same level of immunity from legal proceedings as a witness giving evidence from within the parliamentary precincts and may consider it appropriate to take legal advice on this matter.

Witnesses are also asked to note that only evidence connected with the subject matter of these proceedings is to be given and they should respect directions given by the Chair and 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 or otherwise engage in speech that might be regarded as damaging to the person's or entity's good name. I invite Professor Harvey and Mr. Bassett to make their opening statements.