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

I now propose that, as we have a quorum, the Joint Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis will now go into public session. Is that agreed? Agreed.

We commence this morning's proceedings, session 1, public hearing, and a discussion with Mr. Dermot Gleeson, former chairman of Allied Irish Banks. In doing so, I would like to welcome everyone to the 20th public hearing of the Joint Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis and this morning we will hear from Mr. Dermot Gleeson, former chairman of Allied Irish Banks. Mr. Gleeson was a leading barrister and senior counsel in Ireland in the 1980s and 1990s before he became a senior Government adviser and then a businessman. He served as Attorney General of Ireland in the Government of Taoiseach John Bruton. In 2003, Mr. Gleeson was appointed chairman of Allied Irish Banks. Mr. Gleeson, you are very welcome before the inquiry this morning.