Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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I welcome members and I also welcome viewers who may be watching our proceedings on Oireachtas TV.

I ask that members and visitors ensure that, for the duration of the meeting, their mobile phones are turned off completely or switched to flight mode.

On behalf of the committee I extend a very warm welcome to Mr. Brian Lucas from the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, and to Dr. Florence Renou-Wilson of UCD.

Before beginning, I advise witnesses 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. If they are directed by the committee to cease giving evidence on a particular matter and they continue to do so, they are entitled thereafter only to a qualified privilege in respect of that evidence. They are directed that only evidence connected to 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.

Members are reminded of the long-standing ruling of the Chairman that they should not comment on, criticise or make charges against a person outside of these Houses, or an official either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.

I now invite Mr. Lucas to make his opening statement.