Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome Mr. Ed Farrell, chief executive officer of the Irish League of Credit Unions, ILCU; Mr. Kevin Johnson, chief executive officer of the Credit Union Development Association, CUDA; Mr. Tim Molan, Chairperson of the Credit Union Managers Association, CUMA; Mr. Seamus Boland, chief executive officer and Ms Sinead Dooley, Irish Rural Link; Mr. Harald Felzen, Savings Bank Foundation for International Cooperation, Sparkassen to the second session of the meeting to discuss the cost of doing business.

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 in relation to 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 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 long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that a member 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 our guests that their presentations should be no more than five minutes in duration. Members have already received their copies of their submissions and presentations. I invite Mr. Farrell to make his presentation.