John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I invite Mr. Daithí McKay from the Northern Ireland Assembly, Chairman of the Committee for Finance and Personnel together with his committee colleagues to attend our meeting. I extend a warm welcome to them.

Before we begin the business of the meeting, I advise witnesses that they are protected by absolute privilege in respect of the evidence they are to give this committee. If they are directed by the committee to cease giving evidence in relation to a particular matter and they continue to do so, they are entitled thereafter only to a 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 they are asked to respect the parliamentary practice to the effect that where possible they should not criticise nor make charges against a Member of either House, a person outside the House or an official by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable. Members are reminded of the provision within Standing Order 163 that the committee should also refrain from inquiring into the merits of a policy or policies of the Government or a Minister of the Government, or the merits of the objectives of such policies.

I invite Mr. McKay to make his opening statement.