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

This meeting has been convened with officials from the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport and Media. I welcome Mr. Adam Larragy, principal officer, and Mr. Luke Devoy, assistant principal officer, from the Department. I will invite our witnesses to deliver their opening statements, which are limited to five minutes. This will be followed by questions from members of the committee. The committee may publish the opening statements on its web page.

Before I invite our witnesses to deliver their opening statements, I wish to explain some limitations regarding parliamentary privilege and the practice of the Houses as regards references witnesses may make to other persons in their 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. 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 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 relation to an identifiable person or entity, they will be directed to discontinue their remarks. It is imperative they comply with any 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 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 Leinster House to participate in public meetings. I cannot permit a member to attend where they are not adhering to that constitutional requirement. I would also like to ask members when contributing via MS Teams to please identify themselves when contributing for the benefit of the Debates Office staff preparing the Official Report and to mute their microphones when they are not contributing to reduce background noise and feedback. I remind all those joining us today to ensure their mobile phones are on silent mode or switched off.

I call Mr. Larragy for the opening statement from the Department.