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

I ask those who are appearing remotely to put their microphones on mute when others are speaking as it interferes with the sound.

The purpose of today's meeting is to engage with the chairperson designate of CIÉ, Ms Fiona Ross; the chairperson designate of Bus Éireann, Mr. Aidan Murphy; the chairperson designate of Bus Átha Cliath, Mr. Ultan Courtney; and the chairperson designate of Iarnród Éireann, Mr. Frank Allen, in order to discuss their strategic priorities for the roles and their views on the challenges facing their organisations. I welcome all of them to today's meeting and thank them for attending at such extremely short notice. We all appreciate that it is difficult during these Covid times.

I will read the note on privilege. All witnesses are again reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice that they should not criticise or 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 your statements are potentially defamatory in relation to an identifiable person or entity, you will be directed to discontinue your remarks. It is imperative that you 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 a witness physically present does. Witnesses participating in this committee session from a jurisdiction outside the 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 long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that they should not comment on, criticise 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. I remind members of the constitutional requirement that members must be physically present within the confines of the place where Parliament has chosen to sit, namely, Leinster House or in the convention centre in Dublin in order to participate in public meetings. I will not permit a member to participate where they do not adhere to this constitutional requirement. Unfortunately, it is a rule we need to apply. Therefore, any member who attempts to participate from outside the precincts will be asked to leave the meeting. In this regard I ask any member participating via Microsoft Teams that prior to making his or her contribution to the meeting he or she should confirm that he or she is in the grounds of the Leinster House campus.

I now call on Ms Ross, chairperson designate of CIÉ to make her opening statement. She has five minutes.