I thank the members of the committee for agreeing previously by email that I would act as the temporary Chair for today's meeting. Apologies have been received from Deputies Munster and Fitzpatrick and from Senator Hoey.
This meeting has been convened in the context of this committee's pre-legislative scrutiny of the general scheme of the online safety and media regulation Bill 2020. In this session, we are meeting with students from Kinsale Community School and Tallaght Community School to discuss issues concerning online safety and cyberbullying. I welcome the witnesses who are joining the meeting remotely via Microsoft Teams. From Kinsale community school, I welcome Ms Sarah Fitzgerald and Ms Megan Fahy, and from Tallaght community school, I welcome Mr. Rory Hynes and Mr. Jake Bushe. I also welcome the teachers and the management representatives from both schools who are also joining the call today in an observational capacity. The format of the meeting is straightforward. I will invite witnesses to make their opening statements, and questions will then follow from members of the committee. As the witnesses are probably aware, the committee may publish the opening statements on its website following the meeting.
Before I invite the witnesses to give their opening statements, which are limited to two minutes for each school, I want to advise of the following regarding parliamentary 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 witnesses' statements are potentially defamatory with regard to an identifiable person or entity, they will be directed to discontinue their remarks. It is imperative that they comply with any such direction. As our witnesses today are attending remotely from outside the Leinster House campus, they should note that there are some limitations to parliamentary privilege and, as such, they may not benefit from the same level of immunity from legal proceedings as a witness who is physically present does.
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 the Houses or an official either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable. I remind members of the constitutional requirement whereby members must be physically present within the confines of the place where Parliament has chosen to sit, namely, Leinster House or the Convention Centre Dublin, in order to participate in public meetings. I will not permit a member to attend where he or she is not adhering to the constitutional requirements. Therefore, any member who attempts to attend from outside the precincts will be asked to leave the meeting.
I also ask members to please identify themselves when contributing for the benefit of the Debates Office staff preparing the Official Report and also to please mute their microphones when not contributing to reduce background noise and feedback. I also ask that they use the raise hand function when they wish to contribute. I remind those joining today's meeting to ensure that their mobile phones are on silent or switched off.
I invite Ms Sarah Fitzgerald to address the committee, followed by Ms Megan Fahy. They are both representing Kinsale Community School.