David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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On behalf of the committee I welcome Mr. Colm O'Gorman, executive director, and Ms Pia Janning, legal officer, from Amnesty International Ireland and thank them for giving their time to attend the meeting. The format of the meeting is that you will be invited to make an opening statement of approximately five minutes duration, followed by a question and answer session.

I draw witnesses' attention to the fact that by virtue of section 17(2)(l) of the Defamation Act 2009, you are protected by absolute privilege in respect of your evidence to the committee. However, if you are directed by the committee to cease giving evidence on a particular matter and you continue to do so, you are entitled thereafter only to qualified privilege in respect of your evidence. You 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, you should not criticise or make charges against any person, persons or entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable. Members are reminded that under the salient rulings of the Chair 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. O'Gorman to make his opening remarks.