Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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Apologies have been received from Senator Black, who is speaking in the Seanad. Please note that to limit the spread of Covid-19, people are encouraged to wear masks. Everybody is aware of that.

We rotate the rota at every meeting so that every party gets an opportunity to contribute. Sinn Féin will have the first slot, followed by Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, the SDLP, Alliance, the Green Party, Sinn Féin, the Labour Party, Independents, Aontú and so on. Each slot will last for 15 minutes. Committee members are free to comment on anything they wish.

Today we have the first meeting of our architects of the Good Friday Agreement project. We will be meeting a range of people involved in negotiations, including politicians and officials. On behalf of the committee, I warmly welcome Mr. Tim O'Connor to the meeting and thank him for attending. Mr. O'Connor is a former senior diplomat who was a part of the Irish Government delegation at the talks that led to the Good Friday Agreement in 1998. He was inaugural joint secretary of the North-South Ministerial Council in Armagh from 1999 to 2005. He was Consul General of Ireland in New York from 2005 to 2007. He was also Secretary General to the President from 2007 to 2010. I met Mr. O'Connor in a few of those capacities. I must say he is held in the highest esteem in Ireland and America.

I wish to explain some limitations to parliamentary privilege. The evidence of witnesses physically present or who give evidence from within the parliamentary precincts is protected pursuant to both the Constitution and statute by absolute privilege. However, witnesses and participants 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. Such witnesses may consider it appropriate to take legal advice on that matter.

Witnesses are also asked to note that only evidence connected with the subject matter of proceedings should be given and should respect directions given by the Chair and 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, or otherwise engage in speech that might be regarded as damaging to the good name of the person or entity.

Some committee members are attending online. They will appear on the screen.

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. I remind members of the constitutional requirement that members must be physically present within the confines of Leinster House to participate in public meetings. Everybody knows the story there.

I now call Mr. O'Connor to make his opening statement.