John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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The purpose of this meeting is to meet Mr. Gerry Murphy, chief executive officer, National Transport Authority, and his colleagues, Ms Anne Graham, director of public transport services and chairperson of the national committee for integrating local and rural transport, and Mr. Hugh Creegan, director of investment and taxi regulation, regarding the authority's decision to tender out up to 10% of the routes currently operated by Bus Éireann and Dublin Bus.

On behalf of the committee, I welcome Mr. Murphy, Ms Graham and Mr. Creegan.

I draw the witnesses attention to the fact that 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 it to cease giving evidence on a particular matter and continue to so do, they are entitled thereafter only to qualified privilege in respect of their evidence. They are directed that only evidence connected with the subject matter of these proceedings is to be given and asked to respect the parliamentary practice to the effect that, where possible, they should not criticise or make charges against a person or an entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable. I advise that any opening statement submitted to the committee will be published on its website after the meeting.

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 invite Mr. Murphy to make his opening remarks.