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

We resume in public session to discuss No. 7 on the agenda, an overview of the Irish economy and its funding requirements. I welcome Mr. John Corrigan, chief executive of the NTMA, who is accompanied by Mr. Oliver Whelan, director of funding and debt management, and Mr. Brendan Murphy, director of finance. After opening remarks by Mr. Corrigan, we will have a question and answer session. I remind members, witnesses and those in the public Gallery that all mobile telephones must be switched off.

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. 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.