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

The next item concerns the Department of the Taoiseach Strategy Statement 2011-2014 and the Irish Financial Services Centre Clearing House Group. I welcome Mr. Martin Fraser, Secretary General at the Department of the Taoiseach, who is accompanied by Mr. John Shaw, Ms Pauline Kiernan and Ms Michelle McKiernan. Mr. Fraser will make some opening remarks which will be followed by a question and answer session. I remind members, witnesses and those in the public Gallery that all mobile phones must be switched off.

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 their evidence to the committee. If witnesses are directed by the committee to cease giving evidence on a particular matter and they continue to do so, they are entitled thereafter only to a qualified privilege in respect of their evidence. Witnesses 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 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 they 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.