Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We are now in public session. Oireachtas members attending the meeting remotely should do so from within the Leinster House campus. Remote participation from outside the campus is not possible by ruling of the House.

Members and all those in attendance are asked to exercise personal responsibility in protecting themselves and others from the risk of contracting Covid-19. They are strongly advised to practise good hand hygiene. Every second seat has been removed to facilitate social distancing and I ask people not to move chairs from their current positions. An appropriate level of social distancing should always be maintained, during and after the meeting. Masks, preferably of medical grade, should be worn at all times during the meeting, except when speaking. I ask for members' co-operation in that regard.

Regarding the rotation of speakers during the meeting, I suggest a continuation of the usual system of 15-minute slots, if that is agreeable. Members of the Fianna Fáil Party will be followed by those of Fine Gael and Sinn Féin. Representatives of the Social Democratic and Labour Party, SDLP, and the Alliance Party will be the next to participate, and they will be followed by Independents and members of Aontú. They will be followed by members of Sinn Féin, again, the Labour Party and the Green Party. Is that agreed? Agreed.

Our engagement today is with Mr. Tim Dalton, commissioner, Mrs. Rosalie Flanagan, commissioner, and Mr. Geoff Knupfer, lead forensic scientist and investigator from the Independent Commission for the Location of Victims' Remains, ICLVR. On behalf of the committee, I welcome them to today's meeting.

I will now read the notice regarding privilege, which is universal to all our meetings. The evidence of witnesses physically present or who give evidence from within the parliamentary precincts is protected pursuant to both the Constitution and statute by absolute privilege. However, witnesses and participants who are to give evidence from a location outside the parliamentary precincts are asked to note that they may not benefit from the same level of immunity from legal proceedings as a witness giving evidence from within the parliamentary precincts does and may consider it appropriate to take legal advice on this matter. Witnesses are also asked to note that only evidence connected with the subject matter of the proceedings should be given and should respect directions given by the Chair and the parliamentary practice to the effect that, where possible, they should neither criticise nor make charges against any person, persons or entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable or otherwise engage in speech which might be regarded as damaging to the person's or entity's good name.

Before I call our first witness, I would like to express on behalf of our Oireachtas committee our deepest condolences to the Currie family and to our committee colleague, Senator Emer Currie, on the sad passing of her father, Austin Currie, who was a member of Governments both North and South during his political life. I propose that the committee writes to the Currie family. As Chairman, I will write that letter on behalf of the committee to express our condolences if that is agreed.