Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

We will move on to our session today, which is a continuation of our pre-legislative scrutiny of the online safety and media regulation Bill. I welcome witnesses to the meeting. They are joining us remotely through Microsoft Teams. I welcome Ms Kathryn Walsh, policy manager with the Irish Heart Foundation. I know Ms Walsh well and I am delighted to see her here. I welcome Ms Orla Twomey, chief executive of the Advertisement Standards Authority for Ireland, ASAI; Mr. Paddy McGeoghegan, advocacy and communications manager at Epilepsy Ireland; and Dr. Norah Campbell, associate professor of marketing at Trinity Business School, TCD. I will call on our witnesses to make their statements in that order. Before that, I have some formalities to go through.

The format of the meeting is such that I will invite witnesses to make statements, followed by questions from our committee members. Witnesses will also be aware that the committee may publish their opening statements on its website following the meeting. Before I call on them to deliver their opening statements, which are limited three minutes each, I would advise them of the following in relation to parliamentary privilege. 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 their statements are potentially defamatory in relation to the identifiable person or entity, they will be directed to discontinue their remarks. It is imperative that they comply with any such direction. As witnesses are attending remotely from outside of the Leinster House campus, they should note that there are limitations to parliamentary privilege and, as such, they may not benefit from the same level of immunity from legal proceedings as a witness who is physically present does.

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 House, or an official, either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable. I remind members again of the constitutional requirements that they must be physically present in the confines Leinster House or the Convention Centre Dublin to participate in the public meeting. If they are not, I will have to ask them to leave. I would also ask members to make themselves identifiable when contributing for the benefit of the Debates Office staff who are preparing the Official Report. I would also ask them to mute their microphone when not contributing in order to reduce background noise and feedback. I would ask our guests and members to use the raise hand function on their screen if they want to contribute, and to turn off their mobile phones.

I first invite Ms Kathryn Walsh to make her opening statement on behalf of the Irish Heart Foundation.