Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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I propose that, at the conclusion of the meeting, the select committee briefly discuss in private session possible dates for meetings in September. Is that agreed? Agreed.

I remind members to switch off mobile telephones. The purpose of the meeting is to engage with the chairperson designate of An Post, Mr. Dermot Divilly, to discuss the approach Mr. Divilly proposes to take if and when he is appointed to the role and his views on the challenges facing the organisation. Members invariably have a strong interest in An Post, in particular its network of post offices nationwide. We are aware that Mr. Bobby Kerr led a team which completed a report on the future of the post office network late last year. In addition, the former Joint Committee on Transport and Communications produced a report on the future of the network in 2013.

Members will be aware of the Government decision of May 2011 which introduced new arrangements for the appointment of persons to State boards and bodies. Reference to this arrangement is also made in the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform guidelines on appointments to State boards of November 2014. The 2016 programme for Government suggests that nominees to chairs of State boards be required to have their nominations ratified by the relevant Oireachtas committee prior to appointment. The select committee welcomes the opportunity to meet the chairperson designate of An Post to hear his views and trusts that this meeting will provide greater transparency to the process of appointments to State boards and bodies.

On behalf of the select committee, I welcome Mr. Dermot Divilly. I draw the attention of witnesses 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 the evidence they give to the committee. However, if witnesses are directed by the Chairman to cease giving evidence in relation to a particular matter and continues to do so, they are entitled thereafter only to a qualified privilege in respect of their evidence. The witness is directed that only evidence connected with the subject matter of these proceedings is to be given and he is asked to respect the parliamentary practice to the effect that, where possible, he should not criticise or make charges against any persons or entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable. I also advise Mr. Divilly that any submission or opening statement he makes to the committee will be published on the committee website after the meeting.

Members are reminded of a long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that they 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.

As members have received a copy of Mr. Divilly's opening statement via e-mail, he may wish to provide a brief outline of his statement, although I will leave the decision to Mr. Divilly.