Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Apologies have been received from Senators Harte, Ó Clochartaigh and O'Keeffe. I remind everyone present, including members of the committee, media personnel and those in the Visitors Gallery to ensure their mobile phones and BlackBerry devices are turned off completely, or switched to flight or safe mode, because they interfere with the sound system, even if they are in silent mode. We are pleased to welcome Ms Noeline Blackwell, who is the director general of the Free Legal Advice Centres, and Mr. Paul Joyce, who is a senior policy analyst with the organisation. They are here to make a presentation on a recent report, Redressing the Imbalance, which was published by the Free Legal Advice Centres. I thank them for forwarding their presentation to the joint committee. It has been circulated to the members of the committee. As many of them will be aware, FLAC is an independent human rights organisation that seeks to promote equal access to justice and eliminate discrimination in all its forms. Its work involves providing information and advice to the public and carrying out research and public advocacy.

The report, Redressing the Imbalance, is an in-depth study which analyses the legal protections offered by the State to people availing of credit from banks, hire purchase companies, credit unions and other finance suppliers. Many members of the committee are familiar with the Free Legal Advice Centres. They are eager to hear the presentation and engage with the representatives.
Before we commence, I must inform the witnesses that by virtue of section 17(2)(l) of the Defamation Act 2009, they are protected by absolute privilege in respect of the evidence they are to give this committee. If they are directed by the committee to cease giving evidence in relation to a particular matter and they continue to so do, they are entitled thereafter only to a 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. They are asked to respect the parliamentary practice to the effect that, where possible, they should not criticise or make charges against any person, persons or entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable. I invite Ms Blackwell and Mr. Joyce to make their presentation.