Joe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection, Deputy Regina Doherty, and her officials. The opening statements have been circulated to committee members. Members will be invited to pose their questions and I ask them to confine their initial questions to five minutes. If possible I will be able to come back to them.

I wish to advise 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 the committee. If witnesses are directed by the committee to cease giving evidence on a particular matter and they continue to do so, they are entitled thereafter only to a 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, persons or entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable. The opening statements submitted to the committee will be published on the committee's website after this meeting. 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 also remind all attendees to turn off their mobile phones because they can affect the sound system. I invite the Minister to make her opening statement.