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

We will now proceed to No. 4 on the agenda, session 1 of pre-budget submissions, a round-table discussion on the economy and taxation. I welcome Dr. Nat O’Connor, director, Think-tank for Action on Social Change, TASC, Mr. Ian Talbot, chief executive, Chambers Ireland; Mr. Padraig Cribben, board member, Drinks Industry Group of Ireland, DIGI; and Ms Mary Rose Burke, director of business representation, IBEC.
The format is a round-table discussion on the economy and taxation based on the pre-budget submissions received from the organisations the representatives of which are present. They will make their opening statements in the following order: TASC, Chambers Ireland, the DIGI and IBEC. Questions from members will then ensue. Given the time constraints and to ensure we will have a constructive debate, I insist on all opening statements being kept to a maximum of three minutes. For our purposes today, it is the questions and answers that will be most beneficial, rather than the equivalent of Second Stage speeches which should take place in the Dáil Chamber. The delegates have already been advised by the committee secretariat that I will stop them if they exceed the time allowed. Each member is entitled to ask questions only once and the relevant delegate or delegates may respond immediately.
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 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 the 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 any person 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 either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.
I invite Dr. O’Connor to make his opening statement. The other delegates may follow him in the sequence I have outlined.