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

I welcome Professor Mark Ferguson, director general, Science Foundation Ireland, and thank him for coming. We appreciate him taking the time as this is a very important issue. The purpose of the first part of today's meeting is consideration of the report of the Covid-19 rapid testing group, of which Professor Ferguson is chair. This is related to the resumption of our aviation hearings, which we believe are critical in terms of the reopening not only of the aviation sector but also Ireland Inc., tourism and business. On behalf of the committee, I reiterate our welcome to Professor Mark Ferguson, director general of Science Foundation Ireland, chief scientific adviser to the Government and chair of the Covid-19 rapid testing group, whose report we will deal with today. We are grateful that he was able to attend at such short notice.

This first part of our meeting will last one hour. We will then suspend before recommencing with our second set of witnesses from the Irish Travel Agents Association for the second hour.

All witnesses are 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 witnesses' statements are potentially defamatory in relation to an identifiable person or entity, they will be directed to discontinue their remarks. It is imperative that witnesses comply with any such direction.

For witnesses attending remotely from 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 the 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 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 the Convention Centre Dublin, in order to participate in public meetings. With regret, I will not permit a member to participate where they do not adhere to this constitutional requirement to be physically within the precincts. Therefore, any member who attempts to participate from outside the precincts will, reluctantly, be asked to leave the meeting. In this regard, I ask any members participating via Microsoft Teams to confirm that they are on the grounds of the Leinster House campus prior to making their contributions to the meeting.

I ask Professor Ferguson to make his opening statement.