Lisa Chambers (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The agenda for today's meeting covers the impact of Brexit on the business sector, on all-island trade and on trade between Ireland and the United Kingdom.

I will set out the initial caution for our witnesses. 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 who 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 witnesses 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 the proceedings should be given. They should respect directions given by the Chairman and the parliamentary practice to the effect that, where possible, they should neither 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.

Members are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that they should not commit or make charges against a person outside the Houses or an official either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable. Committee members are only allowed to participate in this meeting if they are physically present on the Leinster House campus. In this regard, I call on all members prior to making their first contributions to confirm that they are on the grounds of the Leinster House complex.

Participants in the committee meeting from a location outside the precincts are asked to note that the constitutional protection afforded to those participating within the parliamentary precincts does not extend to them. No clear guidance can be given on whether or to what extent participation is covered by absolute privilege of a statutory nature.

Members will be aware that we have encountered technical difficulties or ICT issues in previous meetings. Should such difficulties arise again during this meeting we appeal to people to bear with us. Most can be ironed out but please bear with us if anything does arise during the meeting.

The meeting today is broken into two sessions. The first is from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. and the second is from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. The first witnesses are representatives from InterTradeIreland and the Irish Small and Medium Enterprise Association, ISME. The witnesses include Mr. Ken Nelson, chairman, and Ms Kerry Curran, assistant director, strategy and policy, of InterTradeIreland. We are also joined by Mr. Neil McDonnell, chief executive officer of ISME, and Mr. Damien Roche, managing director of the Roche freight company, who is for ISME as well. We will hear from the representatives of InterTradeIreland first and then from Mr. McDonnell and Mr. Roche.