Seán Fleming (Laois, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome Ms Niamh O'Donoghue, Secretary General at the Department of Social Protection; Ms Anne Vaughan, deputy Secretary General; Mr. John Conlon, assistant Secretary General; Mr. Jim McDonnell, principal officer; Mr. Tim Duggan, assistant Secretary General; and Ms Kathleen Stack, assistant Secretary General. I also welcome Mr. Colin Menton from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. I ask members, witnesses and those in the Public Gallery to switch off their mobile telephones.

I advise witnesses 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 the committee. However, if they are directed by the committee to cease giving evidence on a particular matter and they continue to so do, 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 or make charges against any person, persons or entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable.

Members are reminded of the provision within Standing Order 186 that the committee shall refrain from inquiring into the merits or objectives of a policy or policies of Government or a Minister of the Government. Finally, 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 House or an official either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.

I call the Comptroller and Auditor General to make his opening statement.