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

I welcome to the meeting Mr. Andrew McDowell, vice president of the European Investment Bank, EIB, and Mr. Cormac Murphy, head of the Dublin office, and from the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland, SBCI, Mr. Nick Ashmore, CEO, and Ms Gillian Mahon, head of funding and strategic initiatives. This meeting arises from the committee's interest in determining the level of investment being generated across the EU and specifically in the context of promoting economic growth. This is an opportunity to receive an update from key figures involved in the promotion of investment opportunities and also to analyse Ireland's performance to date in terms of attracting investment.

I wish to advise the 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 this committee. 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.