Dominic Hannigan (Meath East, Labour)
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We are delighted to have before us European Movement Ireland, EMI. I welcome back to the committee Ms Noelle O'Connell who is the executive director of EMI. Ms O'Connell will talk to us today about the performance of Ireland's Parliament and Government's in regard to participation in the European Union. Members will also have an info-graphic in front of them outlining the various response rates at various institutions of the Parliament, the European Council, Commission, Oireachtas, etc. We will have a chance to discuss that in our first session. We will then have a separate session where we will discuss the response to the country specific recommendations of the European Semester.

We will kick-off with Ms O'Connell but before I ask her to make her opening remarks, I would remind members of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that they should not criticise or make charges against a person or body outside the Houses or an official either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.

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 joint committee. However, if they are directed to cease giving evidence on a particular matter and they continue to so do, 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 and they are asked to respect the parliamentary practice to the effect that they 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.