Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I ask that members hold on for a moment. We are still in public session. Deputy Carthy has made a suggestion. If it is okay with members, I will let Deputy Fitzmaurice lead because he has dealt with Mr. Walker before. Is that agreed? Agreed.

I welcome Mr. Robert Walker of Walker Recycling Services Limited, who is joining remotely.

I have an important notice relating to parliamentary privilege. Witnesses are protected by absolute privilege in respect of their evidence to the committee. However, if they are directed by the committee to cease giving evidence on a particular matter and they continue to so do, they are entitled thereafter only to a qualified privilege in respect of their evidence. They are directed that only evidence connected with the subject matter of these proceedings is to be given and they are asked to respect the parliamentary practice to the effect that, where possible, they should not criticise or make charges against any person, persons or entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable. Participants in the committee meeting who are in locations outside the parliamentary precincts are asked to note that the constitutional protections afforded to those participating from within the parliamentary precincts do not extend to them. No clear guidance can be given on whether or the extent to which participation is covered by the absolute privilege of a statutory nature.

I welcome Mr. Walker to the meeting and ask him to make an opening statement. We have a couple of questions we would like to put to him.