Alan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The purpose of today's meeting is to receive an update from Iarnród Éireann on timetables that were rolled in late August of this year. On behalf of the committee I am very pleased to welcome Mr. Jim Meade, chief executive and Mr. Barry Kenny, corporate communications manager.

I am required to remind witnesses of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that they should not criticise or make charges against a person or entity, either 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 their statements are potentially defamatory in relation to an identifiable person or entity, they will be directed to discontinue their remarks and it is imperative that they comply with any such direction.

I remind members of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that they should not comment on, criticise or make charges against any 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 they must be physically present within the confines of the Leinster House complex in order to participate in public meetings. I will not permit a member to participate if he or she is not adhering to this constitutional requirement. Any member who attempts to participate from outside the precincts will be asked to leave the meeting. In this regard, I ask any member attending via Microsoft Teams to confirm that he or she is on the grounds of the Leinster House campus prior to making a contribution to the meeting.

I look forward to the opportunity to chair this committee. I have dipped in from time to time over the past number of years. Sometimes my experience was good but at other times it was not so good. We will hope for an improvement on that. The committee has some important work to do in the short term, up to whenever the general election is called, not least in regard to this discussion this afternoon but also on legislation which is to come before us including, for example, the national cyber security Bill, which is an important part of the role of the communications side of the committee. I very much look forward to working with colleagues, some of whom I work with across the aisles on other committees and with my constituency colleague, Deputy Duncan Smith. I look forward to working with everyone. As I said in my declaration, I will work without fear or favour. I have a reputation, over the past 13 years, of doing just that in the Oireachtas. I am very much looking forward to working with colleagues to achieve oversight of the Department for which we have jurisdiction and of related agencies, such as Irish Rail, whose representatives have kindly agreed to come before us today. I note, with appreciation, that they were on time today and I thank them for that.

I invite Mr. Meade to make his opening statement.