Ciarán Lynch (Cork South Central, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I welcome Mr. Alan Dukes, chairman, and Mr. Mike Aynsley, chief executive officer, from the Irish Bank Resolution Corporation Limited. I remind members, witnesses and those in the Visitors' Gallery that all mobile phones should be switched off. This meeting is being broadcast by UPC on Channel 207 and mobile telephones that are switched on will interfere with the broadcast and seriously disrupt it so that those watching cannot follow or hear questions and responses.

I advise witnesses that by virtue of section 17(2)(l) of the Defamation Act 2009, witnesses are protected by absolute privilege in respect of the evidence they are to give this committee. If they are directed by the committee to cease giving evidence in relation to a particular matter and they continue to do so, they are entitled thereafter only to a 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 are asked to respect the parliamentary practice to the effect that where possible, they should not criticise or make charges against any person or entity by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable. Members are reminded of the long-standing ruling of the Chair to the effect that members should not comment on, criticise or make charges against a person outside the House or an official by name in such a way as to make him or her identifiable. I invite Mr. Dukes to make his opening statement.