Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I apologise to the witnesses for the delay but there was a vote in the Seanad at 1.30 p.m. I thank them for their forbearance. Apologies have been received from Senator Craughwell and Deputy Duncan Smith.

The purpose of this meeting is to engage with officials from the Departments of Transport, Health, Foreign Affairs and Justice to discuss Covid testing for international travel into and out of Ireland following the recent Government announcements. On behalf of the committee, I welcome from the Department of Transport Mr. Fintan Towey, assistant secretary for civil aviation, and Mr. Phil O'Flaherty, principal officer in the aviation safety and security division; from the Department of Health, Mr. Muiris O'Connor, assistant secretary, and Mr. Keith Comiskey, principal officer; from the Department of Foreign Affairs, Ms Deirdre Ní Fhallúin, director of the consular directorate with responsibility for international travel; and from the Department of Justice, Ms Oonagh Buckley, deputy secretary, and Ms Eileen Leahy, principal officer. I thank the witnesses for attending at such short notice. We regard this meeting as being about giving information to the general public, especially people who will be returning to Ireland over Christmas, which is a special time for Irish people who are coming back to their families and friends. We want to bring absolute clarity to the matter, given the introduction of PCR and antigen testing just this week.

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 the good name of the person or entity. If their statements are potentially defamatory in respect of an identified person or entity, they will be directed to discontinue their remarks. It is imperative that they comply with any such direction. For witnesses attending remotely outside the Leinster House campus, there are some 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. Witnesses participating in this session from a jurisdiction outside the State are advised that they should also be mindful of their domestic law and how it might apply to the evidence they give.

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 Houses or an official either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable. I remind members of the constitutional requirement that they must be physically present within the confines of the Leinster House campus in order to participate in public meetings. Reluctantly, I will not permit members to participate where they are not adhering to this constitutional requirement. Therefore, any member who attempts to participate from outside the precincts will be asked to leave the meeting. In this regard, I ask members participating via Microsoft Teams to confirm prior to making their contributions that they are on the grounds of the Leinster House campus.

I call on Mr. Towey to make his opening statement.