Michael McCarthy (Cork South West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Deputy Deenihan, the Minister of State, Deputy McGinley, and their officials. I do not think there is a need for me to go through the procedures relating to the giving of evidence at committees - the issues of defamation and parliamentary privilege, etc. - because the Minister and the Minister of State are aware of them. Therefore, with the permission of the members, I will proceed straight to the opening statements of the Minister and the Minister of State.