Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Apologies have been received from Senator Joe O'Reilly.

We are dealing with pre-legislative scrutiny of the general scheme of the defence (amendment) Bill 2023. We are pleased to meet members of the external oversight body of the Defence Forces to discuss this Bill. I welcome in particular Professor Brian MacCraith, chair, Ms Josephine Feehily, member, Ms Julie Sinnamon, member, Ms Patricia King, member, and Ms Marianne Nolan, secretary to the external oversight body. They are all experienced witnesses and regular attendees at Dáil committees. They are very welcome.

The meeting will be in the usual format. We will hear an opening statement from Professor MacCraith, after which we will have a question-and-answer session with members. I ask speakers to be concise in their questions to allow all members an opportunity to participate.

Apologies have been received from members of the external oversight committee who are not present, namely, Mr. Aongus Hegarty, Ms Jacqui McCrum and Ms Sam des Forges. The difficulty is with scheduling, which is perfectly understandable to the committee.

I remind witnesses and members 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 in any way identifiable or otherwise engage in speech that might be regarded as damaging to the good name of the person or entity. Therefore, if any statements are potentially defamatory in relation to an identifiable person or entity, witnesses will be directed to discontinue their remarks. I do not anticipate such a direction on this occasion.

I remind members that they are only allowed to participate in this meeting if they are physically located in the Leinster House complex. The witnesses should note that we are still operating a post-Covid hybrid arrangement under which members have a facility of linking in from their offices without being physically present in the committee room. I do not see any members online but if I do, I will alert the witnesses to their attendance.

I invite Professor MacCraith to deliver his opening statement.