Gerry Horkan (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Mr. Wim Verbraeken is chief executive officer of KBC Bank - I hope I pronounced that reasonably well. He is joined by Dara Deering and Brendan Mahon. You are all welcome.

I wish to inform the witnesses about the position on privilege. I wish to advise them that by virtue of section 17(2)(l) of the Defamation Act 2009, they are protected by absolute privilege in respect of their evidence to the committee. However, if you are directed by the committee to cease giving evidence on a particular matter and you continue to so do, you are entitled thereafter only to a qualified privilege in respect of your evidence. You are directed that only evidence connected with the subject matter of these proceedings is to be given and you are asked to respect the parliamentary practice to the effect that, where possible, you 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 they should not comment on, criticise or make charges against a person outside the House or an official either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.

I invite Mr. Verbraeken to make his opening remarks.