John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Today we are to examine the 2013 financial statements of the IDA and Enterprise Ireland. Before we begin the meeting I ask members, witnesses and those in the Public Gallery to please turn off their mobile telephones as they interfere with the sound quality and transmission of the meeting.

I advise witnesses that they are protected by absolute privilege in respect of the evidence they are to give to this committee. If they are directed by the committee to cease giving evidence on a particular matter and continue to so do, they are entitled thereafter to only 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, and they are asked to respect the parliamentary practice to the effect that, where possible, they should not criticise or make charges against a Member of either House, a person outside the House, or an official by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.

Members are reminded of the provisions within Standing Order 163 that a committee should also refrain from inquiring into the merits of a policy or policies of the Government, or a Minister of the Government, or the merits of the objectives of such policies.

I welcome Mr. Martin Shanahan, CEO of IDA Ireland, and I ask him to please introduce his officials.