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

We have a quorum. The Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis is now in public session and can I ask members and those in the public Gallery to ensure that their mobile devices are switched off. We begin today, which is our session one, which is a public hearing with An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny TD and Mr. Richard Bruton TD.

I would like to welcome everyone to today's public hearing of the Joint Committee of Inquiry into the Banking Crisis. Our witnesses today are An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny TD, and Mr. Richard Bruton TD. Gentlemen, you're both welcome before the inquiry this morning.

Today, the inquiry will focus upon the roles of the Oireachtas and the effectiveness of the Oireachtas oversight of the Government in the build-up to the crisis and in responding to the crisis. In particular, our focus will be on three lines of inquiry: the effectiveness of the Oireachtas in scrutinising public policy on the banking sector and the economy, the analysis of the key drivers for budget policy and the appropriateness of the relationships between the Government, the Oireachtas, the banking sector and the property sector.

The Taoiseach and Minister Bruton are, therefore, appearing before the inquiry today in the context of their respective roles as leader of Fine Gael, while in opposition, and as the Fine Gael spokesperson on finance, while in opposition.

In normal proceedings when a witness comes before the inquiry, I read out privilege to the witness but as both our witnesses today are actually Members of the House, they effectively are and categorically are already covered by witness, so I don't have to extend that right as I usually would. But I would say that you are directed by the Chairperson this morning and you are directed to only give evidence connected with the subject matter of these proceedings, and as to be given.

I would remind members and those present that 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 screens to your left and right and members of the public and journalists are reminded that these documents are confidential and should not publish any of the documents so displayed.

The witnesses 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 before the committee and will be relied upon in questioning and form part of the evidence of the inquiry. And if I could now ask the clerk to administer the oath to both of you, please.