David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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We are in public session. We are here today to engage with members of the selection panel for the new Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission. On behalf of the committee I thank everyone for coming and welcome them to the committee - Ms Emily O'Reilly, Dr. Mary Keys, Ms Sylda Langford, Professor Gerard Quinn and Professor Gerard Whyte. They are all welcome and I thank them for giving their time to be here today.

I ask everyone to turn off their mobile phones completely. Silent mode is not sufficient, as the telephone phone signals interfere with the sound recording system.

By virtue of section 17(2)(l) of the Defamation Act 2009, witnesses are protected by absolute privilege in respect of their evidence to the committee. However, if they are directed by the committee to cease giving evidence in respect of a particular matter and they continue to do so, they are entitled thereafter only to qualified privilege in respect of their evidence. They are also directed that only evidence connected with the subject matter of these proceedings is to be given and are asked to respect the parliamentary practice to the effect that, where possible, they should not criticise nor make charges against any person or entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable. I remind members 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 now invite the members of the selection panel to make their opening remarks.