Liam Twomey (Wexford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome Mr. Brian Keegan and Mr. Paul Dillon from the Consultative Committee of Accountancy Bodies - Ireland, Mr. Micheál O'Connor and Mr. Edward McAuley from the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland and Ms Evelyn Jones and Mr. Jim McCabe from the National Off-Licence Association. The submissions received and a summary paper were circulated to members in advance of the meeting. The format of the meeting will be that each group will make brief introductory comments not exceeding three minutes.

I remind everyone that all mobile phones must be switched off. I advise the witnesses that, by virtue of section 17(2)(l) of the Defamation Act 2009, they are protected by absolute privilege in respect of their evidence to the joint committee. If they are directed by the committee to cease giving evidence in respect of a particular matter and they continue to so do, they will be entitled thereafter only to 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 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. 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 Houses or any official by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.

I now call on the representatives from the CCAB-I, the Society of Chartered Surveyors Ireland and the National Off-Licence Association - in that order - to make their opening comments. Their remarks should take the form of a brief introduction and we will then move to a question-and-answer session.