Dáil Éireann
DÁIL ÉIREANN AN COMHCHOISTE UM EALAÍONA, OIDHREACHT, GNÓTHAÍ RÉIGIÚNACHA, TUAITHE AGUS GAELTACHTA JOINT COMMITTEE ON ARTS, HERITAGE, REGIONAL, RURAL AND GAEL- TACHT AFFAIRS Dé Céadaoin, 18 Eanáir 2017 Wednesday, 18 January 2017 The Joint Committee met at0 9 a.m. MEMBERS PRESENT: Deputy Ciarán Cannon, Deputy Danny Healy-Rae, Deputy Michael Collins, Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív. In attendance: Deputy Noel Grealish and Senator Trevor Ó Clochartaigh. DEPUTY PEADAR TÓIBÍN IN THE CHAIR. 1 JAHRRGA Business of Joint Committee Chairman: I advise members to turn off their mobile phones as they interfere with the sound equipment and will interfere with the broadcasting of their mellifluous voices. Apologies have been received from Deputy Niamh Smyth. I propose we go into private session to deal with a number of matters. Is that agreed? The joint committee went into private session at 9.15 a.m. and resumed in public session at 9.45 a.m. Sustaining Viable Rural Communities: Discussion (Resumed) Chairman: By virtue of section 17(2)(l) of the Defamation Act 2009, witnesses are protect- ed by absolute privilege in respect of their evidence to the joint committee. If, however, they are directed by the Chairman to cease giving evidence on a particular matter and continue to so do, they are entitled thereafter only to qualified privilege in respect of their evidence. They are directed that only evidence connected with the subject matter of these proceedings is to be given and they are asked to respect the parliamentary practice to the effect that, where possible, they should not criticise or make charges against any person or an entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable.
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