Pat Deering (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank our next group of witnesses for appearing before the committee to update members on the agriculture cashflow support loan scheme, which was introduced in January of this year. I remind members, witnesses and people in the Gallery to ensure their mobile phones are turned off completely as they can affect the broadcasting system. I welcome Mr. Mark Cunningham, who is the director of business banking at Bank of Ireland; and Mr. John Fitzgerald, who is the bank's head of agriculture. I also welcome Dr. Anne Finnegan, who is the head of the agriculture sector in AIB; Mr. Ken Burke, who is the bank's head of group credit products; and Ms Catherine Moroney, who is the bank's head of business banking. I also welcome Dr. Ailish Byrne, who is Ulster Bank's senior agricultural manager; and Mr. Eddie Cullen, who is a managing director in the bank's commercial banking division.

I would like to bring it to the attention of witnesses that they are protected by absolute privilege in respect of the evidence they are about to give 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 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. They are asked to respect the parliamentary practice to the effect that, where possible, they should not criticise or make charges against any person or entity by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable. 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 House or an official by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.

I invite Mr. Cunningham to make his opening statement on behalf of Bank of Ireland.