No apologies have been received. Before we begin, I want to draw the attention of witnesses to privilege. Witnesses giving evidence from within the parliamentary precincts are protected by absolute privilege in respect of the evidence they give to a committee. This means that a witness has a full defence in any defamation action for anything said at a committee meeting. However, witnesses are expected not to abuse this privilege. They may be directed by the Chair to cease giving evidence on an issue and should follow the direction of the Chair in this regard. They are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that, as is reasonable, no adverse commentary should be made against an identifiable third person or entity. 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 witnesses giving evidence from within the parliamentary precincts. They may consider it appropriate to take legal advice on the matter. Privilege against defamation does not apply to the publication by the witnesses, outside of the proceedings held by the committee, of any matters arising from the proceedings.
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 of the Houses or an official, either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable. Parliamentary privilege is considered to apply to the utterances of members participating online in a committee meeting where their participation is from within the parliamentary precincts. Members may not participate online in a public meeting from outside the parliamentary precincts and any attempt to do so will result in them having their online access removed. Everybody participating is present in the room and no speakers are online at present.
The agenda item for today's meeting is a resumption of our discussion on the impact of greenways, railways and roadways on agriculture, with particular reference to compulsory purchase orders, CPOs. Today we are joined by representatives of Transport Infrastructure Ireland, TII including Mr. Lorcan O'Connor, chief executive, Ms Geraldine Fitzpatrick, head of road and greenway capital programme, and Ms Mary Flynn, regional manager, west. Tá fáilte romhaibh. From the County and City Management Association, CCMA, we are joined by Mr. Barry Kehoe, chief executive of Westmeath County Council and chairman of the CCMA's transport infrastructure networks committee, Mr. Uinsinn Finn, director of services at Galway County Council, and Mr. Gabriel Hynes, director of services at Waterford City and County Council. Tá fáilte romhaibh. The opening statements have been circulated to members. The witnesses will have five minutes to deliver their opening statements and then we will proceed to questions and answers with members.
