Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I believe everybody is well settled and has had an opportunity to get their breath again. Our guests, witnesses and those joining us in the Gallery are all very welcome today. I have received apologies from Deputies Fitzpatrick and Munster and Senator Cassells.

I welcome our guests. We have representatives from Rethink Ireland, the FAI, UEFA and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, UNESCO, to discuss social outcome contracts in Irish sport. As I outlined, this meeting has been convened in committee room 1 with representatives from those organisations, whom I sincerely and warmly welcome on behalf of the committee.

Mr. Liam McGroarty, strategy manager with UEFA, is very welcome. From the FAI, I welcome Mr. David Courell, chief operating officer, and Mr. Ger McDermott, director of grassroots football. I also welcome Rethink Ireland's chief executive officer, Ms Deirdre Mortell, who is joined by her colleague, Mr. Mario Vottero, who joins us via Microsoft Teams. Finally, I welcome UNESCO chair manager, Ms Catherine Carty. I think we have included everybody. Our guests are very welcome.

We are getting used to doing things in person again, which is great. Some of our colleagues may join us from their offices via Microsoft Teams so witnesses may see some people on the screens or some may be here in person. We have a speaking rota and, obviously, the Dáil and Seanad are sitting so people will come and go. It is no disrespect to the witnesses or their presentations; it is just how things happen in Leinster House. Everything happens back-to-back. The witnesses should not take any offence when people leave or anything like that; it is probably because another meeting is happening. As I said, people will come in during the meeting as well so pass no remarks, as they say in Cavan.

I have a little bit of housekeeping to go through around Covid-19 and stuff like so I ask everyone to bear with me. The format of the meeting today is that I will invite all of our witnesses to deliver their opening statements, which are limited to three minutes. These will be followed by questions from my committee colleagues. As witnesses are probably aware, the committee may publish the opening statements on its website. To limit the risk of the spread of Covid-19, the service encourages all Members, visitors and witnesses to continue to wear face masks in crowded settings on the campus.

Before I ask our witnesses to deliver their opening statements, I will explain some limitations regarding parliamentary privilege and the practice of the Houses as regards references they may make to other persons in evidence. The evidence of witnesses physically present or of those who give evidence from within the parliamentary precincts is protected, pursuant to both the Constitution and statute, by absolute privilege. There are also witnesses who may be giving evidence remotely from outside the parliamentary precincts, however, and as such may not benefit from the same level of immunity from legal proceedings as a witness who is physically present. Such witnesses may think it appropriate to take legal advice on this matter.

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 to the good name of that person or entity. Therefore, if their statements are potentially defamatory in regard to an identifiable person or entity, they will be directed to discontinue their remarks. It is imperative that they comply with such direction.

Members are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice that they should not criticise, comment on or make charges against a person outside the House 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 Leinster House to participate in the public meeting. I ask members who are contributing via Microsoft Teams to identify themselves when contributing for the benefit of the Debates Office staff preparing the Official Report and to mute their microphone when not contributing to reduce background noise.

I ask everyone to ensure their mobile telephones are on silent, in airplane mode or switched off, whichever they prefer.

I welcome Deputy Andrews, who is joining us today, and Deputy MacSharry, who will be joining us later this afternoon.

I invite Mr. McGroarty to make his opening statement on behalf of UEFA and the FAI.