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

This meeting is being convened today with representatives from the Dublin City University, DCU, Institute of Future Media, Democracy and Society and the National Union of Journalists to consider the European Media Freedom Act in furtherance of the committee decision to undertake further scrutiny of COM/2022/0457 and the European Commission proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and European Council establishing a common framework for media services in the internal market and amending Directive 2010/13/EU.

On behalf of the committee, I welcome Mr. Séamus Dooley. He is a regular visitor to our committee and is the Irish secretary of the National Union of Journalists. From DCU Institute of Future Media, Democracy and Society, I welcome the principal investigator of the media pluralism monitor project and the euromedia ownership monitor project for Ireland, Dr. Roderick Flynn. That is some title.

The format of the meeting is that I will invite our witnesses to deliver their opening statements, which will be limited to five minutes. This will then be followed by questions from members of the committee. As our witnesses may be aware, the committee may publish the opening statements on its webpage.

Before I invite our witnesses to deliver their opening statements, I wish to explain some limitations in respect to parliamentary privilege and the practice of the House in regard to reference they 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 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 respect of an identifiable person or entity, they will be asked to discontinue their remarks.

Members are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that 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 our public meetings.

I propose that we proceed with opening statements from Mr. Dooley and Dr. Flynn.