Liam Twomey (Wexford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The joint committee will resume its discussions with organisations providing assistance for people who are struggling to manage their mortgages about their experiences and what they believe could be done to improve the position. On behalf of the committee, I welcome the representatives of the second group of organisations. AskAboutMoney is represented by Mr. Brendan Burgess; Phoenix Project Ireland by Ms Julie Sadlier and Mr. Tom O'Reilly; and New Beginning by Mr. Ross Maguire and Ms Ruth Fanning.

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. However, if they are directed by it to cease giving evidence on a particular matter and continue to do so, they are 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 asked to respect the parliamentary practice to the effect that, where possible, they should not criticise or make charges against a person or an entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable.

I will invite each group to make an opening statement in the following order: AskAboutMoney, Phoenix Project Ireland and New Beginning. I will invite members to put their questions at the conclusion of the opening statements. Applying the same time limits as in the first session, there will be ten minutes for each party spokesperson and five for each other member. As we are pressed for time, I ask delegates to confine their opening statements to five minutes each to allow more time for questions. I ask members and delegates to keep their questions and answers brief and to the point. I invite Mr. Burgess to present the first statement.