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

Before we resume, I remind members, witnesses and those in the Visitors Gallery that all mobile telephones must be switched off to avoid interference with the broadcasting of the meeting.
I welcome Professor Patrick Honohan, Governor of the Central Bank of Ireland, to this afternoon's meeting. The discussion with Professor Honohan is the last in our series of public meetings examining mortgage arrears and the progress that is being achieved in putting in place solutions to resolve difficulties in the sector. The discussion will begin with opening remarks by Professor Honohan, following which questions may be put to him by members. It is important that we manage our time well this afternoon in order to derive maximum benefit from the meeting. Each member will have a strictly limited time slot within which questions may be put and replies given. I am proposing that 15 minutes be allocated in the first round and ten minutes in the second round. Is that agreed? Agreed. Questions from members and the replies thereto should be clear and concise.
I advise Professor Honohan 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 this committee. If he is directed by the committee to cease giving evidence in regard to a particular matter and he continues to so do, he is entitled thereafter only to a qualified privilege in respect of his evidence. He is further directed that only evidence connected with the subject matter of these proceedings is to be given and is asked to respect the parliamentary practice to the effect that, where possible, he should not criticise or make charges against any person or entity, either by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable.
I invite Professor Honohan to make his opening remarks.