Lisa Chambers (Fianna Fail)
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I remind members to ensure their mobile phones are switched off. For the information of the public, only myself, as Chair, the clerk and technical staff are in the committee room. Members are joining remotely from their offices in Leinster House. Witnesses are also joining remotely. There may at times be some technical difficulties, so I ask people to bear with us.

Apologies have been received from Senators Martin, McDowell and Black. I welcome everyone to today's meeting. We have no correspondence to note. Are the draft minutes of our public meeting on 9 February, during which we engaged with officials from IBEC, agreed? Agreed.

On behalf of the committee, I welcome Mr. David McArdle, treasurer, and Mr. John Nolan, secretary, of the Irish Road Haulage Association, IRHA. As we all aware Brexit has had serious implications for Ireland and the economy. The agenda today involves a discussion on the impact of Brexit on trade connectivity and trade flows. These are the men and women at the coalface who are keeping our supply chains open and our shelves stocked. Seven weeks into the new Brexit trading environment, it will be great to hear from those who have to operate under these new changes.

We will hear also from Mr. Eamonn O'Reilly, chief executive of Dublin Port Company, Mr. Glenn Carr, general manager of Rosslare Europort, and Mr. Barry Kenny, corporate communications manager at Iarnród Éireann.

In the first session of today's meeting, we will engage with the IRHA. I welcome Mr. McArdle and Mr. Nolan. I thank them on behalf of the committee for making themselves available. It is important engagement for our committee's work. We would like to know the implications of Brexit on their industry.

Before the witnesses make their opening statement, I remind them about parliamentary privilege. The evidence of witnesses who are physically present or who give evidence from within the parliamentary precincts is protected pursuant to the Constitution and statute by absolute privilege. However, witnesses who are to give evidence from a location outside the parliamentary precincts are asked to note that they may not benefit from the same level of immunity from legal proceedings as a witness giving evidence from within the parliamentary precincts does and may consider it appropriate to take legal advice on this matter.

Witnesses are also asked to note that only evidence connected with the subject matter of the proceedings should be given. They should respect directions given by the Chair and the parliamentary practice to the effect that, where possible, they should neither criticise nor make charges against any person or entity by name, or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable or otherwise engage in speech that might be regarded as damaging to the person or entity's good name.

Members are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that they should not commit 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. I remind members that they are only allowed to participate in this meeting if they are physically located on the Leinster House campus. In this regard, I ask all members, prior to making their initial contribution to the meeting, to confirm that they are on the grounds of the Leinster House campus. That is an important warning for everybody.

Participants in the committee meeting from a location outside the parliamentary precincts are asked to note that the constitutional protection afforded to those participating within the parliamentary precincts does not extend to them. Therefore, if they are directed by the Chair to cease giving evidence in relation to a particular matter, they must respect that direction.

I ask members that if they are not contributing to please mute their devices. I call Mr. McArdle and Mr. Nolan to make their opening statement on behalf of the IRHA.