Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I have received apologies from Deputy Stanton. I understand Senator Ó Donnghaile is attending the Seanad and will join us in due course. I welcome Mr. Mark Keane, president, Mr. Gerard Guinan, general secretary, Mr. Martin Bright, deputy general secretary, and Mr. Damien Quigley, national support officer, Permanent Defence Force Other Ranks Representative Association, PDFORRA, to discuss the issues in regard to the Defence Forces. Members will recall the committee met recently with the chairperson of the Commission on the Defence Forces, Mr. Aidan O'Driscoll.

In terms of format for the meeting, the committee will hear an opening statement from a representative of PDFORRA and I will then open the floor to a questions and answers session with members. I remind witnesses and members that we are time limited due to the Covid restrictions. I ask the witnesses to be conscious of time constraints when addressing the meeting by way of opening statement as that would allow more time for engagement with members in response to questions or issues raised and I ask members to be concise in their questions to allow the witnesses an opportunity to respond.

I remind witnesses of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that, where possible, they should not criticise nor make charges against any person or entity by name or in such a way as to make them identifiable, or otherwise engage in speech that might be regarded as damaging to the good name of that person or entity. Therefore, if statements are potentially defamatory in relation to an identifiable person or entity, the witness will be directed to discontinue his or her remarks and it is imperative that such a direction is complied with.

Witnesses attending remotely, outside the Leinster House campus, should note 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 currently does. I do not anticipate that will arise in the context of this meeting. I remind members 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 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 in the Leinster House complex or in the Convention Centre Dublin, where the Dáil and Seanad are meeting today.

For anybody watching this meeting online, some Oireachtas Members and witnesses are accessing this meeting remotely. Due to the unprecedented circumstances and the large number of people attending the meeting remotely, I ask everybody to bear with us in the event of any technical issues arising. I acknowledge the work of the logistics team in making this and other meetings possible.

I now invite Mr. Guinan to make his opening statement.