Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We will begin our discussion with Mr. Richie Boucher, group chief executive, Bank of Ireland, on access to finance for small and medium enterprises, SMEs. We asked the witnesses from the three banks to come in a little earlier because of a clash in timing between this meeting and Question Time. I welcome Mr. Richie Boucher, group chief executive, Mr. Liam McLoughlin, chief executive of retail Ireland, Bank of Ireland group, and Mr. Pat Farrell, head of group communication, Bank of Ireland, to discuss access to finance for SMEs and all matters associated with that. I thank the witnesses for facilitating the time change and apologise in advance on behalf of members who have to leave and come back to the meeting as Question Time in taking place at the same time. Apologies for the slight confusion.
In accordance with procedure, I am required to read out the following notice. 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 joint committee. If they 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 either by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable. 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.
I ask Mr. Boucher to make his presentation to the committee on access to finance for SMEs, following which we will have a question and answer session.