Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Apologies have been received from Senator Frances Black and Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh. Today, we continue our meetings on our Architects of the Good Friday Agreement project. On behalf of our committee, I welcome Lord Empey. Lord Empey was a member of the Northern Ireland Assembly from 1998 to 2011. He is a former Northern Ireland Minister of Enterprise, Trade and Investment and was leader of the Ulster Unionist Party, UUP, from 2005 to 2010. During the multi-year talks that led to the Belfast Agreement and the Good Friday Agreement, Lord Empey acted as the senior UUP negotiator. I am delighted to welcome Lord Empey. I thank him for agreeing to come before this committee.

Before we begin, I will explain some limitations to parliamentary privilege and the practices of the Houses regarding references witnesses may make to other persons in their evidence. The evidence of witnesses physically present or those who give evidence from within the parliamentary precincts is protected pursuant to both the Constitution and statute by absolute privilege. However, witnesses and participants who are to give evidence from locations outside the parliamentary precincts are asked to note that they may not benefit from the same level of immunity from legal proceedings as witnesses giving evidence from within the parliamentary precincts, and may consider it appropriate to take legal advice on this matter. Witnesses are also asked to note that only evidence connected with the subject matter should be given, and they should respect directions given by the Chair and the parliamentary practice to the effect that, where possible, they should neither criticise nor make charges against any person, persons 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 that person or entity's good name.

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, her or it identifiable.

I call on Lord Empey to make his opening statement. After it, if he is happy, we will rotate questions between the representatives of the different parties. The exchange will be as relaxed and as informal as we can make it. Lord Empey is very welcome. We are delighted to have him. He has the floor.