Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We move on to our discussion on the report entitled Beverage Exports 2000-2011 with the Drinks Industry Group of Ireland. I welcome Mr. Kieran Tobin, chairman of the Drinks Industry Group of Ireland, Mr. Peter O'Brien, Diageo corporate relations director for Ireland and western Europe, and Mr. Anthony Foley, senior economist at Dublin City University business school.

Members are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that members should not comment on, criticise or make charges against a person outside the House or an official by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable. By virtue of section 17(2)(l) of the Defamation Act 2009, witnesses are protected by absolute privilege in respect of the evidence you are to give this committee. If you are directed by the committee to cease giving evidence in relation to a particular matter and you continue to so do, you are entitled thereafter only to a qualified privilege in respect of your evidence. You are directed that only evidence connected with the subject matter of these proceedings is to be given and you are asked to respect the parliamentary practice to the effect that, where possible, you should not criticise nor make charges against any person(s) or entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable. I invite Mr. Tobin to make his presentation.