Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein)
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Apologies have been received from Deputy Catherine Callaghan.

The joint committee is continuing its pre-legislative scrutiny of the general scheme of the defence (amendment) Bill 2025. I welcome on behalf of the committee Mr. Stephen Kelly from the Peace and Neutrality Alliance, and Ms Niamh Ní Bhriain from the Transnational Institute. They are very welcome. The witnesses are here to discuss the general scheme of the Bill. The format of the meeting is that I will invite each witness to make an opening statement, which is to be followed by questions from members of the committee. Each member has a seven-minute slot to ask questions and for witnesses to respond.

I advise members of the constitutional requirement that they must be physically present within the confines of the Leinster House complex to participate in public meetings. I will not permit a member to participate where they are not adhering to this constitutional requirement. Therefore, a member who attempts to participate from outside the precincts will be asked to leave the meeting. In this regard, I ask any member partaking via Microsoft Teams to confirm formally prior to making a contribution to the meeting that he or she is on the grounds of the Leinster House campus.

Both members and 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 him, her or it identifiable, or otherwise engage in speech that may be regarded as damaging to the good name of the person or entity. Therefore, if statements are potentially defamatory regarding an identifiable person or entity, they will be directed to discontinue their remarks. It is imperative that any such direction be complied with. As the witnesses will probably be aware, the committee will publish their opening statements on its website following the meeting.

I invite Mr. Kelly to make his opening statement, which will be followed by statements by Ms Ní Bhriain.