Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Apologies have been received from Deputies Eamon Scanlon and Ryan O'Meara, as well as the Vice Chair, Senator Diarmuid Wilson.

The joint committee is meeting today in public session to continue with pre-legislative scrutiny of the Defence (Amendment) Bill 2025. On behalf of the committee, I welcome Dr. Edward Burke, University College Dublin, and Mr. Declan Power, independent defence and security analyst. The witnesses are here to discuss the general scheme of the Bill with us. The format of the meeting is I will invite each witness to make an opening statement and this will be followed by questions from members of the committee. Each member has a seven-minute slot to ask questions for the witnesses to respond.

I advise Members of their constitutional requirements 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 where they are not adhering to this constitutional requirement. Therefore, a Member who attempts to participate from outside the precincts will be asked to leave the meeting. In this regard, I ask any Member partaking via Microsoft Teams that prior to making their contribution to the meeting, he or she confirms 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 to make him, her or it identifiable or otherwise engage in speech that may be regarded as damaging to the good name of the person or entity. Therefore, if statements are potentially defamatory regarding an identifiable person or entity, they will be directed to discontinue their remarks. It is imperative any such direction is complied with.

As the witnesses are probably aware, the committee will publish the opening statement on its website following this meeting. The witnesses are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect 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 regarding an identifiable person or entity, they will be directed to discontinue their remarks. It is imperative witnesses comply with any such direction.

I invite Dr. Burke to make his opening statement, followed by Mr. Power. On behalf of the committee, I once again thank the witnesses for being here this morning.