Alan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael)
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I welcome Professor Barry O'Sullivan, director of the Insight Centre for Data Analytics in the department of computer science in University College Cork, UCC, and Dr. Mary Aiken, adjunct associate professor at the University College Dublin, UCD, Geary Institute for public policy and academic adviser to the European Cybercrime Centre at Europol. I thank the witnesses for appearing before the committee this afternoon at relatively short notice.

Before we commence and in accordance with procedure I am required to draw your 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 you are directed by the committee to cease giving evidence on a particular matter and you continue to so do, you are entitled thereafter only to a qualified privilege in respect of your evidence. You are directed that only evidence connected with the subject matter of these proceedings is to be given and you are asked to respect the parliamentary practice to the effect that, where possible, you 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.

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 outside the House or an official either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.

I remind members and witnesses to switch off their mobile telephones or put them into flight mode. Mobile telephones interfere with the sound system even when muted and will make it difficult for the parliamentary reporters or anybody watching the television or online coverage to decipher what we are saying due to interference. I wish to advise the witnesses that any submissions or opening statements submitted to the committee will be published on the committee website after the meeting has concluded. The witnesses will make a short presentation, followed by questions from members of the committee. I thank the members for almost full attendance this afternoon.

I ask the witnesses to limit their opening statements to ten minutes between them.