Neale Richmond (Fine Gael)
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I remind Senators to ensure their mobile phones are switched off. This important because the use of such devices can cause serious problems for broadcasting, editorial and sound staff. As there is no 4G in this room, mobile phones are no use to us in any event.

I welcome Mr. Les Allamby, who is the chief commissioner of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission; Professor Colin Harvey of Queen's University Belfast; Mr. Daniel Holder of the Committee on the Administration of Justice; and Ms Una Boyd. They are here today to discuss citizenship rights following the withdrawal of the United Kingdom of the European Union. The committee touched on this issue in its original round of hearings and it was covered in the report we published in June 2017. Here we are in May 2019 and the wider discussion has not yet reached much of what we would like to see implemented. I do not intend to get into the politics of Westminster or elsewhere. There is an understandable level of frustration. As Members of the Oireachtas, we are aware that the recommendations we made in our report, on the basis of the advice we took in our hearings, are a living picture for many people on the ground on the North and South of this island, in the United Kingdom and across the wider Continent. We appreciate the chance to engage with experts who have vast knowledge of this area and have worked in it. I look forward to a frank discussion and exchange of views with them. I would also like to welcome Ms Emma DeSouza, who is in the Gallery. Members of the committee met Ms DeSouza informally before this meeting commenced. We appreciate her time very much.

I ask everyone to bear with me while I read the rules on privilege, which will take a couple of minutes. 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 Houses or an official, either by name or in such a way as to make him or her 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 this committee. If they are directed by the committee to cease giving evidence on a particular matter but they 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. They are 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 ask Mr. Allamby to make the opening statement.