Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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This meeting has been convened in the context of the committee's continued pre-legislative scrutiny of the online safety and media regulation Bill 2020. I welcome Mr. Ciaran Moore, helpline manager with Samaritans Ireland, and his colleague, Ms Louise Hamra, policy manager for Samaritans Ireland. Both witnesses will be joining the meeting remotely via Microsoft Teams. The format of the meeting is such that I will invite our witnesses to make their opening statement which will then be followed by questions from members of the committee. I remind members that they should raise a hand if they wish to speak. We will not be using a speaking rota. As our guests are probably aware, the committee will publish their opening statement on its website following the meeting.

Before I invite the witnesses to deliver their opening statement, which is limited to three minutes, I will advise them of the following with regard to parliamentary privilege. Witnesses are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice that they should not criticise or make charges against any person or entity by name or in such a way as to make her, him or it identifiable, or otherwise engage in speech that might be regarded as damaging to the good name of the person or entity. Therefore, if their statements are potentially defamatory in respect of an identifiable person or entity, they will be directed to discontinue their remarks. It is imperative that they comply with any such direction. As the witnesses are attending remotely from outside the Leinster House campus, I ask them to note that there are some limitations to parliamentary privilege and, as such, they may not benefit from the same level of immunity from legal proceedings as a witness who is physically present does.

With all of that housekeeping out of the way, I welcome our guests. This is the way we do things now, that is to say, virtually. We used to have people in the committee rooms. Having said that, we make the most of it. I thank the representatives for joining us today. Their submission in respect of our pre-legislative scrutiny is very welcome. Without further ado, I ask Mr. Moore to take the floor to make his opening statement.