Alan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Thank you very much, Mr. Neary.

I take this opportunity to welcome our other contributors this morning - Ms Aidine O'Reilly, managing director of Real Nation, and Mr. D.O. O'Connor, deputy managing director and director of business development at Laya Healthcare, to discuss Super Troopers with Laya Healthcare. Before I ask the witnesses to make their joint opening statement, I am required to read the following, which these witnesses will have missed. In accordance with procedure, I draw 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 evidence they give 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 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, where possible, they should not criticise nor make charges against any person, persons or entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable.

Witnesses might take the opportunity to ensure that their mobile phones are off because otherwise they might interfere with our sound system and prevent accurate reporting of our activities. I thank the witnesses very much for coming in and facilitating a single session rather than two separate sessions. I invite them to make their joint opening statements.