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

We will now discuss the sale of loans to unregulated private investment funds. I welcome Mr. Joe Healy, president of the Irish Farmers Association, Mr. Neil McDonnell, chief executive officer of the Irish Small and Medium Enterprises Association, ISME, and Mr. Padraic Kissane, financial adviser.

I advise the witnesses 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 they are directed by the committee to cease giving evidence on a particular matter and continue to so do, they are entitled thereafter only to a qualified privilege in respect of your evidence. They are directed that only evidence connected with the subject matter of these proceedings is to be given and asked to respect the parliamentary practice to the effect that, where possible, they should not criticise or make charges against any person 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. Healy to make his opening statement.