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

Today's meeting, which will be in two separate sessions, is with key representatives to discuss online safety, online disinformation and media literacy. Its timing could not be more pertinent after what we have seen in the past couple of weeks. I thank the witnesses for being with us here. In our first session, we will meet representatives from TikTok, Meta and Google. To this end, I warmly welcome from TikTok, Ms Susan Moss, head of public policy, and Dr. Nikki Suu, safety and well-being public policy subject expert; from Meta, we have the familiar face of Mr. Dualta Ó Broin, head of public policy in Ireland; and from Google, we have Mr. Ryan Meade, government affairs and public policy manager, and Mr Ollie Irwin, trust and safety team.

The format of today's meeting is that I will invite the witnesses to deliver their opening statements which are limited to three minutes. I ask them to be cognisant of that limit to give my colleagues on the committee as much time as possible to engage in questions over and back thereafter. As the witnesses may be aware, the committee may publish the opening statements on our web page. Is that agreed? Agreed.

Before we proceed to the opening statements, I wish to explain some limitations in relation to 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 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. 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 the person or entity. Therefore, if witnesses' statements are potentially defamatory in relation to any identifiable person or entity, they will be directed to discontinue their remarks.

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 colleagues of the constitutional requirement that members must be physically present within the confines of Leinster House to participate in public meetings. Therefore, any member who attempts to attend from outside of the parliamentary precincts will be asked to leave the meeting.

I propose that we proceed with opening statements. We will begin with Ms Moss on behalf of TikTok.