Maria Bailey (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome from the Central Statistics Office, CSO, Mr. Pádraig Dalton, director general; Mr. Richard McMahon, assistant director general, social and demographic statistics; Mr. Paul Morrin, assistant director general, statistical system co-ordination; Ms Deirdre Cullen, senior statistician, census of population; and Mr. Cormac Halpin, senior statistician, census of population.

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 joint committee. If, however, they are directed by it to cease giving evidence on a particular matter and 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 and asked to respect the parliamentary practice to the effect that, where possible, they should not criticise or make charges against any person or an entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it 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 Houses or an official, either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.

I invite Mr. Dalton to make his opening statement.