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

Before I hear from the witness, I just wish to advise the witness that by virtue of section 17(2)(l) of the Defamation Act 2009, witnesses are protected by absolute privilege in respect of their evidence to this committee. If you are directed by the Chairman to cease giving evidence in relation to a particular matter and you continue to so do, you are entitled thereafter only to a qualified privilege in respect of your evidence. You are directed that only evidence connected with the subject matter of these proceedings is to be given. I would remind Members and those present that there are currently criminal proceedings ongoing and further criminal proceedings are scheduled during the lifetime of the inquiry, which overlap with the subject matter of the inquiry. Therefore, the utmost caution should be taken not to prejudice those proceedings.

Members of the public are reminded that photography is prohibited in the committee room and to assist the smooth running of the inquiry, we will display certain documents in the screens here in the committee room. For those sitting in the Gallery, these documents will be displayed on a screen to your left and members of the public and journalists are reminded that these documents are confidential and not for publication, but will be displayed to assist the proceedings as they take place over the coming weeks.

The witness has been directed to attend this meeting of the Joint Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis. You have been furnished with booklets of core documents, these are part of ... these are before the committee which will be relied upon in questioning and form part of the evidence of the inquiry.