James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Apologies have been received from Deputy Martin Kenny. I remind all members and witnesses to turn off their mobile phones or place them in flight mode. They can interfere with the sound recording, even though it may not be apparent at the time.

The purpose of our meeting today is to have an engagement with a number of stakeholders, all of whom made written submissions to the committee on the general scheme of the Garda Síochána (powers) Bill 2021. All of our witnesses are appearing virtually before the committee today from a location outside the Leinster House precinct, as is becoming the norm now.

We are joined by a number of witnesses today. I will welcome them in turn. I welcome back Ms Clare Daly MEP, who is known to this parish from previous service. We are also joined by Mr. Dale Sunderland and Mr. Gary Russell of the Data Protection Commission. They are welcome to the meeting. From the Policing Authority, we are joined by Mr. Bob Collins, chairperson, who is a regular attender at our sessions, and Ms Helen Hall, chief executive. They are welcome. We are also joined by Ms Rachel Wood, assistant secretary, and Ms Sarah Sheppard, assistant principal officer, from the Department of Justice. Of course, as per the convention at recent meetings, the representatives of the Department of Justice are here in an observer capacity and will take notes. If there are questions that can be addressed by them, we will direct such questions to them and they will participate, but they will not be making a submission as such. I ask contributors to unmute their devices when they are speaking but to mute them when they are not speaking so that we do not have interference.

I must make the witnesses aware of the following advice on parliamentary privilege. All witnesses are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice that they should not criticise nor 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 respect of an identifiable person or entity, they may be directed to discontinue their remarks. It is imperative they comply with any such direction. For witnesses attending remotely, there may be some limitations to parliamentary privilege. They may wish to take their own advice on that. We are in a hybrid situation and have committee meetings in this format. Should witnesses have any concerns around the level of privilege that extends to them, I am drawing to their attention the fact it may not be as robust as it would usually be were they physically in the building. There is no way around that; we are where we are.

The format of the meeting today is that I will invite each of the participating organisations to make a three-minute opening statement to the committee. We also have their written submissions in front of us, which members have had the opportunity to read and review in advance of the meeting today. Following the opening statements, I will go round the members of the committee and take questions. Each member who wishes to contribute will have seven minutes, including questions and responses from the witnesses. It is up to each member to decide how they wish to use that time. If a member wishes to give a speech for seven minutes and not allow for any responses, that is his or her prerogative. Equally, if a member wishes to ask short questions and leave a lot of time for the answers, that is also perfectly acceptable.