Lisa Chambers (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The agenda for today's meeting is to delve further into customs checks and trade flows in and out of Irish ports following Brexit. I must now advise members and witnesses with regard to privilege. Witnesses giving evidence from within the parliamentary precincts are protected by absolute privilege in respect of the evidence they give to a committee. This means that witnesses have a full defence in any defamation action for anything said at a committee meeting. However, witnesses are expected not to abuse this privilege and may be directed to cease giving evidence on an issue at the Chair's direction. Witnesses should follow the direction of the Chair in this regard and are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that, as is reasonable, no adverse commentary should be made against an identifiable third party or entity. Witnesses 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 witnesses giving evidence from within the parliamentary precincts and may consider it appropriate to take legal advice on this matter. Privilege against defamation does not apply to the publication by witnesses, outside of the proceedings held by the committee, of any matters arising from the proceedings.

Members are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that they should not comment or make charges against a person outside the Houses of the Oireachtas 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 complex. In this regard, I ask all members to confirm they are on the Leinster House complex prior to making their first contribution.

Representing the Revenue Commissioners, we have Mr. Gerry Harrahill, commissioner and director general of customs, and Ms Celine O’Neill, principal officer, Brexit policy branch. The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine is represented by Ms Louise Byrne, head of the Brexit and international trade division, and Ms Hazel Sheridan, head of the import control operations division. The HSE is represented by Mr. Joe Ryan, national director of national services, and Ms Ann Marie Part, assistant national director for environmental health.

I now invite Mr. Harrahill to make his opening statement. I think his microphone is muted. One of the joys of having virtual meetings is that we often have these technical glitches. I ask everyone to bear with us while we try to sort it out.

Mr. Harrahill, can you try to unmute yourself there now? I think we might have resolved the issue on this end. Apparently not. Apologies, members and witnesses. We will have to suspend briefly for five minutes to resolve the matter. Bear with us, thank you.