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 do so, 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 will 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.

To assist the smooth running of the inquiry, we will display certain documents on the screens here in the committee room. For those sitting in the Gallery, these documents will be displayed on the screen to your left. Members of the public and journalists are reminded that these documents are confidential and they should not publish any documents as displayed. They are there to assist proceedings when evidence is being given.

The witness has been directed to attend this meeting of the inquiry into the banking crisis and you have been furnished with booklets of core documents. These are before the committee and will be relied upon at times when questioning, and form part of the evidence of the inquiry. With that said, could I now ask the clerk to administer the oath of affirmation to Mr. Forde.