John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome members and our guests. We are joined by Mr. John Devitt, Ms Stephanie Casey, Ms Lorraine Heffernan and Dr. Lauren Kierans. Mr. Michael Clifford, the journalist, is also attending. He has experience and plenty of knowledge in this area.

The purpose of the meeting is to discuss and set the backdrop to the protected disclosure legislation review that will take place shortly. The format will see Mr. Devitt and Mr. Clifford each giving an opening statement, after which we will have a questions and answers session.

I remind everyone about privilege. If witnesses are in the Leinster House campus or at the convention centre, they have privilege. If they are not, they may only have limited privilege. They should not name anyone in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.

I invite Mr. Devitt to make his opening statement.