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

Before commencing public session, I would like to ask those in the public Gallery and other members to make sure that their mobile devices are switched off. So the Committee of the Inquiry into the Banking Crisis is now resuming in public session. At our next session we will hear from Joe O'Reilly, a founder of Castlethorn Construction and Chartered Land Group. This is one of several sessions in which the inquiry is focusing upon the relationships between property developers, companies and their principal financial institutions. From the outset, Mr. O'Reilly, I know you've been waiting for a while this afternoon to come in and, on behalf of the committee, I'd like to apologise for any delay and discomfort that that may have caused you today.

Joe O'Reilly has been involved in property development in Ireland for the last 25 years. He founded his company Castlethorn Construction in 1991. He is also the founder ... the executive chairman of the Chartered Land Group, which focuses on the development, management and operation of shopping centres and commercial office buildings in the greater Dublin area. Among their projects were the Dundrum Shopping Centre, the Pavilions Centre in Swords, the ILAC Centre in Dublin city centre, the Grand Canal Theatre and adjoining office blocks in Dublin Docks and the creation of a brand new town at Adamstown. Mr. O'Reilly, you're very welcome before the inquiry this evening.

Before hearing from the witness, I 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 to their evidence to this committee. You are directed by the Chairman to cease giving evidence in relation to ... 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 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. To assist with 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 screens to your left and right. Members of the public and journalists are reminded that these documents are confidential and they should not publish any of the documents so displayed.

The witness has been directed to attend this meeting of the Joint Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis. You have submitted a witness statement. This is before the committee, will be relied upon in questioning and will form part of the evidence of the inquiry. So with that said, if I can now ask the clerk to administer the oath to Mr. O'Reilly please.