Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

From the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, I welcome Mr. Brendan Gleeson, assistant secretary, Mr. Dermot Ryan, deputy chief inspector, Mr. Gerry Greally, senior inspector, and Ms Emer McGeogh, assistant principal officer. I thank them for coming before the committee to brief it on the general scheme of the Horse Racing Ireland (Amendment) Bill 2014 and to outline the rationale for the provisions contained therein. The committee was asked by the Minister to consider the heads of the Bill.
By virtue of section 17(2)(l) of the Defamation Act 2009, witnesses are protected by absolute privilege in respect of the evidence you are to give this committee. If you are directed by the committee to cease giving evidence in relation to a particular matter and you continue to so do, you are entitled thereafter only to a 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 you are asked to respect the parliamentary practice to the effect that, where possible, you should not criticise nor make charges against any person(s) or entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable. Members are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that members should not comment on, criticise or make charges against a person outside the House or an official by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.
Mr. Gleeson will make and opening statement and we will discuss each head. Some will generate more interest than others. I invite Mr. Gleeson to make his opening statement.