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

This meeting has been convened to consider the Committee Stage of the Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2022. Members will be aware that this is the first of three sessions scheduled for today and tomorrow for Committee Stage consideration of the Bill. Members will note it is proposed there will be an hour-long suspension tomorrow from 4.30 p.m. to 5.30 p.m. because the session is quite long. We will start at 1.30 p.m. and finish at 8.30 p.m. I welcome the Minister and her officials and I thank my colleagues for joining us at this late hour. As we know, Leinster House is alive until all hours and time does not matter. I remind our officials that they are not in a position to speak while we are in public session.

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 also remind members of the constitutional requirement that they must be physically present within the confines of Leinster House in order to participate in public meetings. I will not permit a member to participate where he or she is not adhering to this constitutional requirement.

It is important to note that in order to participate in a division in committee, members must be physically present in the committee room. Where members wish to speak to certain sections of the Bill, especially those to which no amendments have been tabled, I request that they clearly indicate before I dispose of the section. It is useful to note that only matters raised on Committee Stage may be raised by way of amendment on Report Stage.

I ask members to identify themselves when contributing via Microsoft Teams for the benefit of the Debates Office staff preparing the Official Report, to mute their microphones when not contributing in order to reduce background noise and feedback and to use the raise-hand function if they wish to contribute. I also ask everyone to ensure their phones are switched off or on airplane mode.

The Minister will make some introductory remarks.