Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South-Central, Sinn Fein)

At the outset, I acknowledge the Cathaoirleach could not be here due to the passing of her mother. The committee extends its sympathies to Deputy Conway-Walsh.

Apologies have been received from Senator Diarmuid Wilson, the Leas-Chathaoirleach, and Deputy Eamon Scanlon. The joint committee is meeting today to continue its pre-legislative scrutiny of the defence (amendment) Bill 2025. I now invite the guests into the meeting.

Cuirim fáilte roimh na cainteoirí atá anseo. I welcome Dr. Karen Devine from the school of law and government at Dublin City University, DCU; Professor Emeritus John Maguire of University College Cork, UCC; and Professor Ray Murphy of the school of law at the University of Galway.

Tá na cainteoirí anseo chun an Bille seo a phlé linn. The witnesses are here to discuss the general scheme of the Bill. The format of the meeting is that I will invite each witness to make an opening statement, to be followed by questions from members of the committee. Each member has a seven-minute slot to ask questions and receive a response from the witnesses. Members should allow time for witnesses' responses within the seven-minute slot.

I advise members of the constitutional requirement that they must be physically present within the confines of the Leinster House complex to participate in public meetings remotely. I will not permit members to participate if they are not adhering to that constitutional requirement. A member who attempts to participate from outside the precincts will be asked to leave the meeting. I ask members partaking via MS Teams to confirm, prior to contributing, that they are on the grounds of the Leinster House campus.

Members 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. If a member's remarks are potentially defamatory in respect of an identifiable person or entity, that member will be directed to discontinue his or her remarks. It is imperative that members comply with such a direction.

I advise the witnesses that the committee will publish their opening statements on its website following the meeting. 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. If witnesses' statements are potentially defamatory in regard to an identifiable person or entity, they will be directed to discontinue their remarks. It is imperative that they comply with such a direction.

I invite Dr. Devine to make her opening statement.