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

We will now discuss the final report of the credit union advisory committee implementation group. I welcome all the guests this morning. Mr. Corr is from the Department of Finance. Mr. Farrell is from the Irish League of Credit Unions. Mr. Kevin Johnson is from the Credit Union Development Association. Mr. Tim Molan is from the Credit Union Managers Association. Mr. Joe Tobin is treasurer of the National Supervisors Forum. I welcome all of you to our meeting to discuss the report.

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 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 will now invite Mr. Corr to make his opening statement.