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

I welcome Mr. Richard Boucher, chief executive officer of Bank of Ireland, Mr. Liam McLoughlin, chief executive of the retail Ireland division, and Ms Lynda Carragher, head of credit.

I remind members, witnesses and those in the Visitors' Gallery that all mobile telephones must be switched off. This meeting is being broadcast by UPC on channel 207. If a mobile telephone is switched on, it will interfere with the broadcast, sometimes to the extent that it will be seriously disrupted and those watching cannot follow or hear the questions asked or answers given.

I wish to advise witnesses that by virtue of section 17(2)(l) of the Defamation Act 2009, they are protected by absolute privilege in respect of their evidence to this committee. If witnesses are directed by this committee to cease giving evidence in regard to a particular matter and they continue to do so, 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 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, her or it 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. Before I invite Mr. Boucher to begin his presentation, is it agreed that the witnesses' presentation will be published? Agreed. That said, I thank Mr. Boucher, Mr. McLoughlin and Ms Carragher for their attendance this morning. I invite Mr. Boucher to make his opening statement.