John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

From the Citizens Information Board I welcome the chairperson, Ms Ita Mangan, Ms Angela Black, chief executive, and Mr. Adrian O'Connor, senior manager. From the Money Advice & Budgeting Service, MABS, I welcome Mr. Micheál Ó Giolláin, chairperson, and Mr. James Clarke, secretary, both from the national management forum. They are accompanied by Mr. Donald Yourell, director of Longford MABS. Members have already been circulated with the MABS presentation on 8 February and a copy of the most recent parliamentary question answered by the Department, as background information. I will invite both bodies to make their opening statements and members will then be invited to address their questions to them. I remind members to confine their initial round of questions to five minutes. They can ask supplementary questions after that.

I draw the attention of witnesses to the fact 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 it to cease giving evidence on 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 matters of these proceedings is to be given and 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.

The opening statements submitted to the committee will be published on the committee's website after the meeting. Members are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that they should not comment on, criticise or make charges against a person outside the Houses or an official either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable. I remind members and witnesses to turn off their mobile phones or switch them to flight mode. It is not just an interference with the meeting as the proceedings are recorded and mobile phones interfere with the sound system. I invite Ms Mangan to make her opening statement.