Dominic Hannigan (Meath East, Labour) | Oireachtas source

On behalf of the committee I am pleased to welcome Professor John FitzGerald from the Economic and Social Research Institute, ESRI. Today's meeting is a continuation of the debate we are having on Ireland and the European Union. Today's session will focus on the implications for Ireland of an evolving European Union in terms of the proposed completion of the economic and monetary union and necessary steps to bolster democratic accountability and legitimacy. Committee members will be very aware of the recent views expressed by the ESRI on this matter and we are looking forward to hearing Professor FitzGerald's views on developments in the euro area and beyond.

Before we begin, I remind witnesses and members of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that they should not comment on or make charges against an individual or entity either by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it 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 the committee. If a witness is directed by the committee to cease giving evidence on a particular matter and he or she continues to do so, he or she will be entitled thereafter only to a qualified privilege. I invite Professor FitzGerald to make his opening remarks.