Liam Twomey (Wexford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I remind members, delegates and those in the Visitors Gallery to ensure their mobile phones are switched off. This is important because it causes serious problems for broadcasting, editorial and sound staff.

No. 8 is pre-legislative scrutiny of the general scheme of a Bill to provide for functions for the Minister for Finance and powers to spend regarding the agreement on the transfer and mutualisation of contributions to the Single Resolution Fund. From the Department of Finance I welcome Mr. Aidan Carrigan, assistant secretary, and Mr. Cathal Sheridan. The departmental officials are accompanied by an official from the Central Bank of Ireland should clarification be required. The format of the meeting is that Mr. Carrigan will make some opening remarks which will be followed by a question and answer session to clarify matters.

By virtue of section 17(2)(l) of the Defamation Act 2009, witnesses are protected by absolute privilege in respect of their evidence to the committee. If they are directed by it to cease giving evidence on a particular matter and continue to so do, they are entitled thereafter only to 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 asked to respect the parliamentary practice to the effect that, where possible, they should not criticise or make charges against any person or an entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable.

Members are reminded of the long-standing ruling of the Chair to the effect that they should not comment on, criticise or make charges against a person outside the Houses or an official by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.

I invite Mr. Carrigan to make his opening remarks.