Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I wish to explain to the ambassador and the people in the Gallery the reason there are so few members present. It is due to the fact that a vote has just been called in the Seanad and some members have had to rush off. Other members are involved in votes at various committees so they will come in and out of the meeting.

I remind members to ensure their mobile phones are switched off. I am very grateful that the Ambassador of Austria, Dr. Helmut Freudenschuss, is with us today. We are very pleased to have this engagement with him at a very important time. We congratulate Austria on assuming the Presidency of the Council of the European Union on Sunday last. We are delighted to have the ambassador with us today. The Presidency is an important role. As I stated previously to the ambassador and others, we appreciate the role played by ambassadors and the engagement they have with the committee. We believe it to be very important and we take it very seriously.

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 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 their evidence to the committee. However, if they are directed by the committee 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 asked to respect the parliamentary practice to the effect that, where possible, 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.

I invite the ambassador to make his opening statement.