Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The committee has held a number of meetings on this and intends to publish a report on it. I am delighted to welcome two of the foremost economists in Ireland, Dr. Alan Ahearne and Professor John McHale, who will be familiar to all the members. I thank them for attending this meeting to give us their views on this topic.

Before inviting our guests to speak I must issue the privilege notice. While it is highly unlikely it will be invoked during the meeting, if I did not read it out, it would be the one time it would be. Members are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that they should not comment on, criticise or make charges against a person outside the Houses or an official either 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 they give to this committee. If they are directed by the committee to cease giving evidence in relation to a particular matter and they continue to so do, 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 they are asked to respect the parliamentary practice to the effect that, where possible, they should not criticise nor make charges against any person or entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable.

I invite Professor McHale to make his statement.