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

Apologies have been received from Senator Ruane. I will explain for the benefit of external attendees that there was a vote in the Dáil Chamber, so we have been slightly delayed in getting down to business. This happens - we are in a live parliamentary situation and it is par for the course. My apologies, it is unavoidable.

We move to our topic for the meeting, which is pre-legislative scrutiny of the general scheme of the policing, security and community safety Bill. We have completed one session on this and agreed to have a second because several associations were keen to have their say. We look forward to hearing what our guests have to say this afternoon.

On housekeeping, I remind members and, in particular, witnesses who may be joining the meeting remotely to please turn off their mobile phones or turn them to flight mode as, even though they may not appear to be interfering during the session, they can cause difficulties for the recording and transmission afterwards.

We are joined by the following witnesses: Mr. Derek Mullen, national secretary of the Civil Service division of Fórsa; Mr. Thomas Cowman, assistant general secretary, Fórsa; Detective Superintendent Seamus Nolan, president of the Association of Garda Superintendents; Detective Superintendent Mick Comyns, general secretary of the Association of Garda Superintendents; Ms Antoinette Cunningham, general secretary of the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors, AGSI; Mr. Ronan Clogher, deputy general secretary of the AGSI; Garda Frank Thornton, president of the Garda Representative Association, GRA; and Mr. Philip McAnenly, interim general secretary of the GRA. We are also joined from the Department of Justice by Mr. Doncha O'Sullivan, head of the criminal justice governance unit, and Ms Anne Barry, principal officer in the policing legislative framework unit. They are all very welcome to the committee. We look forward to hearing their views in the course of the meeting.

The normal procedure is that each organisation will have one slot, as such. Our guests may share those slots or otherwise divide their time as they wish. So that members are aware, particularly those who may not be accustomed to the running of meetings, we normally then go in rounds with members. Each member will have an opportunity to ask questions. The responses to those questions can come from all or any of the witnesses, depending on who is most appropriate to answer. The time slot for members includes their questions and the responses of witnesses. It is the prerogative of members whether they wish to use their time for questions and answers or to make a longer contribution, thereby curtailing the time for answers. It normally works quite well. It is an efficient way of doing business.

To recap on parliamentary privilege, particularly given that several witnesses are attending from outside the Leinster House campus, witnesses are advised to be mindful 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 to otherwise engage in speech that might be regarded as damaging to the good name of the person or entity.

If the statements are potentially defamatory with respect to any identifiable person, the witnesses may be directed to discontinue their remarks. We are well used to it at this stage but we are in a somewhat unique position as there are witnesses attending remotely from outside the campus. They should be aware, for their own sake, that parliamentary privilege may not bring the same immunity if challenged as it would if witnesses were in the building. We are where we are and we are well used to it at this stage. It is something of which to be aware.

Each organisation has a three-minute period in which to make opening statements. It is up to each organisation how many speakers they wish to use but it is three minutes per organisation. After we have heard initial comments from each organisation, we will invoke the rota system and there will be seven minutes allocated to each member for questions and answers. After the seven minutes expire, I will move to the next member and so on. If time permits and if members wish to get in a second or potentially a third time, that may be facilitated, but each member will get in at least once. We will go around a second or third time if needs be. It is a relatively straightforward system and it works well.

Without further ado I will begin in the order I have been given. Fórsa will have the floor first and Mr. Mullen has three minutes for his remarks.