Kathleen Funchion (Carlow-Kilkenny, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

On behalf of the committee, I welcome the Minister and thank him for being with us today. We know his time is precious so we very much appreciate it. I remind members, guests and those in the Public Gallery to please ensure that their mobile phones, tablets or anything electronic are switched off or at least are on airplane mode as they interfere with the recording equipment.

Members are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that they should not comment on, 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, her or it 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. If they are directed by the Chairman 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 that, where possible, they should not criticise or make charges against any person or entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable.

There were many questions in the past on the possible implications of Brexit for EU funding for the EU Programme for Peace and Reconciliation, PEACE, and the EU initiative for inter-regional co-operation INTERREG. I am sure the committee would be interested to hear the Minister's thoughts on that.