John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome Ms Helen Curley, principal officer, and Ms Tara Coogan, assistant principal officer, from the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation; and Mr. Conan McKenna, assistant secretary general, Mr. Seamus Carroll, principal officer, and Ms Madeleine Reid, principal officer, from the Department of Justice and Equality.

Before we begin, I wish to advise witnesses 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. However, if they are directed by the committee to cease giving evidence on a particular matter and they continue to so do, 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 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 call Mr. Conan McKenna to make his opening statement.