Michael McCarthy (Cork South West, Labour)
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We are resuming the meeting in public session. We will now consider a number of topics with the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Deputy Heather Humphreys, and with the Minister of State with responsibility for Gaeltacht affairs, Deputy Joe McHugh. Is that agreed? Agreed.
I want to welcome the Minister, the Minister of State and their departmental officials to this meeting. The officials are Mr. Joe Hamill, Secretary General; Mr. Niall Ó Donnchú, assistant secretary; Ms Máire Killoran, director of Irish; Ms Mary Hurley, principal officer; and Ms Sinead Copeland, assistant principal officer. I thank them all for their attendance here today.
I wish to 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 this committee. However, if they are directed by the committee to cease giving evidence in relation to a particular matter and they continue to do so, they are entitled thereafter only to a 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. They are asked to respect the parliamentary practice to the effect that, where possible, they should not criticise or make charges against any person, persons or entity by name or in such a way as to him, her or it identifiable.
I also wish to advise witnesses that the opening statement and any other documentation they provide to us this afternoon may be published on the committee's website once the meeting has concluded.
As the witnesses are aware, we requested this meeting to discuss a number of issues with the Minister and the Minister of State. I congratulate the Minister on her new appointment. We are interested to hear about her overall plans for the Department in the coming time. As regards the Minister of State, there will obviously be a certain interest in the 20 year strategy for the Irish language.
In recent weeks, we have touched a lot on the preparations and plans for the 1916 commemorations, so we will obviously venture into that territory.
Without further ado, I now call on the Minister to make her opening statement to the committee.