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

I welcome Mr. Tim Duggan, Ms Kathleen Stack, Mr. Philip Cox and Ms Michelle O'Donnell from the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection, as well as Mr. Barry Lowry from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. You are all very welcome.

I will ask for opening statements in a moment but before that I draw attention 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 this joint committee. If, however, they are directed by it 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. Witnesses 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 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. If colleagues have mobile phones, I ask for them to be turned off. We have received the opening statements of witnesses and they will be published in due course.