Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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I remind people to please switch off mobile phones as they cause interference with broadcasting system and distract people. This is a live televised session and we welcome viewers of the proceedings on UPC and Sky channels.
We are continuing our consideration of the rule of law, with the assistance of the Hungarian ambassador, Dr. Tamás Magyarics. Last Tuesday the committee met representatives of Transparency International to discuss this issue. On behalf of the committee I welcome the ambassador. The rule of law is a fundamental pillar of the European Union and the committee held meetings on this topic in the early summer. A new framework seeks to allow the European Commission to intervene in the event of serious systemic threats to the rule of law in a member state. There is some concern regarding the approach to the rule of law in Hungary and in this context we look forward to a briefing from the ambassador.
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 or persons outside the Houses or an official, either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable. By virtue of 17(2)(l) of the Defamation Act 2009, witnesses are protected by absolute privilege in respect of their evidence to the joint committee. If they are directed by the Chair to cease giving evidence on a particular matter and continue to do so, 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 are asked to respect the parliamentary practice to the effect that, where possible, they should not criticise or make charges against a person, persons or entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable. I invite the ambassador to make his submission, after which we will take questions from committee members.