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

I welcome the witnesses. I think committee members feel as though they have lived in this room for the past three weeks. It is great to be here anyway. It may be our last day this week.

We have two substitutions today. Senator Sherlock will substitute for Senator Hoey and Senator Ó Donnghaile will substitute for Senator Warfield. We do not have any apologies so I will crack on with the business of the meeting.

The committee is meeting today in two separate sessions to consider the future of sports broadcasting. The first session has been convened with representatives of Sport Ireland, the Federation of Irish Sport, the FAI, the GAA and IRFU. In our second session we will continue our examination of the same topic, hearing from representatives of RTÉ, TG4, Virgin Media Ireland, Sky Ireland and Independent Broadcasters of Ireland. It is proposed that the committee will consider one item of business in a private session between the public sessions. Is that agreed? Agreed.

As I said, today's meeting will focus on the future of sports broadcasting . I warmly welcome all our guests to committee room 1. From Sport Ireland, I welcome Mr. Paul McDermott, director of high performance, and Mr. Fergus Hannigan, communications and public affairs manager. From the Federation of Irish Sport, I welcome Ms Mary O'Connor, CEO, who needs no introduction. I am delighted to see her again. From the GAA, we welcome Mr. Tom Ryan, ard-stiúrthóir, and Mr. Peter McKenna, commercial director. From the FAI, I welcome Mr. Jonathan Hill, CEO, and Mr. Mark Scanlon, League of Ireland director. They are all welcome. From the IRFU, I welcome Mr. Kevin Potts, CEO, and Mr. Pádraig Power, chief commercial officer. I hope we have all their names and titles correct. They are all welcome.

I have to go through a little housekeeping so I ask the witnesses to bear with me.

The format of today's meeting is that I will invite our witnesses to deliver their opening statements which are limited to three minutes. I will have to be strict about that today. As they will see, we have a huge committee. My colleagues will have four minutes so I hope the witnesses will not think me rude to guillotine them at three minutes. I will have to do so and stick firmly to it. The statements will be followed by questions from committee members. Is that agreed? Agreed.

Before we proceed to opening statements, I will explain some limitations regarding parliamentary privilege and the practice of the Houses as regards references made by witnesses to other persons in their evidence. The evidence of witnesses physically present or who give evidence from within the parliamentary precincts is protected pursuant to both the Constitution and statute by absolute privilege in respect of the presentations they make to the committee. However, a few of the witnesses are giving evidence remotely today from outside the parliamentary precincts. As such they may not benefit from the same level of immunity from legal proceedings as a witness physically present does. Such witnesses may think it appropriate to take legal advice on the 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 relation to an identifiable person or entity, witnesses will be directed to discontinue their remarks.

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

I propose we now proceed to the opening statements. I will call on witnesses in the following order: Mr. Paul McDermott on behalf of Sport Ireland; Ms Mary O'Connor on behalf of the Federation of Irish Sport; Mr. Tom Ryan on behalf of the GAA; Mr. Jonathan Hill on behalf of the FAI; and Mr. Kevin Potts on behalf of the IRFU. Mr. McDermott has three minutes.