Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal West, Sinn Fein)
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I have to attend to some procedural matters.

Everyone is welcome to this meeting. Some formal notices have to be read into the record.

I remind members of the constitutional requirement that members must be physically present within the confines of the place in which Parliament has chosen to sit, namely, Leinster House, in order to participate in public meetings. I will not allow members to participate where they are not adhering to this constitutional requirement. Therefore, any member who attempts to participate from outside the precincts will be asked to leave the meeting.

Our next business is our engagement with Mr. Frank Moran, who is the petitioner. Before we start, I have to explain some of the limitations of parliamentary privilege and the practice of the Houses regarding reference witnesses may make to other persons in their evidence. The evidence of witnesses physically present or who give evidence from within the parliamentary precincts is protected, both by the Constitution and statute, by absolute 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 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. Therefore, if their statements are potentially defamatory in relation to an identifiable person or entity, they will be directed to discontinue their remarks. It is imperative that they comply with any such direction.

Before we hear from our witnesses, I propose that we publish their opening statements on the committee's website. Is that agreed? Agreed.

On behalf of the committee, I extend a warm welcome to our witnesses, Mr. Frank Moran, who is the petitioner, and Ms Lucy O'Donoghue. I invite Mr. Moran to read his statement, which should take about ten minutes. We will then have a chance to have questions and answers. The floor is Mr. Moran's. I thank him for being here.