Steven Matthews (Wicklow, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

This committee meeting will recommence pre-legislative scrutiny on the electoral reform Bill. Today, we are joined by representatives of the following advocacy groups: Mr. Bernard Joyce, director, and Ms Jacinta Brack, co-ordinator of political advocacy communications and campaigns, Irish Traveller Movement, ITM; Mr. James Doorley, deputy director, National Youth Council of Ireland, NYCI; and Ms Jennifer McCarthy Flynn, head of policy, and Ms Catherine Lane, women in local community and rural development officer, National Women's Council of Ireland, NWCI. Their opening statements have been circulated to members in advance. I welcome them all.

We have spent some time on the Bill, which is quite right because it is hugely important legislation. Today, we want to concentrate on how to improve engagement with the political system, how to get more people to participate in the electoral system, and how to get more people to vote in local and general elections. We welcome and appreciate the attendance of the witnesses. We will benefit from their experience and the submissions they have made to help us improve this legislation.

What we do is we go round the members. It is a six-minute slot for questions and answers for each member. If we stick to six minutes, we can get to every member and possibly get back in for a second round of questions.

I will read the note on privilege. Members attending remotely within the Leinster House complex are protected by absolute privilege in respect of the presentation they make to the committee. This means they have an absolute defence against any defamation action for anything they say at the meeting. However, they are expected not to abuse this privilege. It is my duty as Chair to ensure that this privilege is not abused. I remind members of the constitutional requirements that they must be physically present within the confines of the place where Parliament has chosen to sit, either Leinster house or the Convention Centre Dublin, in order to participate in public meetings.

For witnesses attending remotely, there are some limitations to parliamentary privilege. As such, they may not benefit from the same level as immunity from legal proceedings as a person who is physically present.

The opening statements, which were submitted to the committee, will be published on the committee website following this meeting.

I now invite witnesses to make their opening submissions. I will start with Mr. Joyce.