John Lyons (Dublin North West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

Schedule B comprises COM(2014)110; COM(2014)304; COM(2014)305; COM(2014)308; COM(2014)317; COM(2014)318; COM(2014)321; COM(2014)322; COM(2014)323, COM(2014)343 and EWN(2014)C171-11. It is proposed that these items do not warrant further scrutiny. Is that agreed? Agreed.
We will scrutinise COM(2014)212, a proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on single-member private limited liability companies and COM(2014)213, a proposal for a directive amending existing law as regards the encouragement of long-term shareholder engagement and certain elements of the corporate governance statement.
I welcome from the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Mr. Pat Houlihan, principal officer, Ms Sabha Green, assistant principal officer, and Mr. John Moynihan, professional accountant. Before we begin, I wish to advise the witnesses that by virtue of section 17(2)(l) of the Defamation Act 2009, witnesses are protected by absolute privilege in respect of the evidence they are to give to this committee. If they are directed by it to cease giving evidence on a particular matter and continue to so do, 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 persons or an 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 an official by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.
I invite Mr. Houlihan to make his opening statement.