John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the chairman of the Pensions Council, Mr. Jim Murray. He is accompanied by Ms Roma Burke and Ms Kirstie Flynn. I also welcome Mr. Tony Donohoe, head of education and social policy with the Irish Business and Employers Confederation, IBEC. He is accompanied by Ms Maeve McElwee, IBEC's director of employer relations. A number of questions will be raised after we have received presentations from Mr. Murray and Mr. Donohoe on the Pensions Amendment (No. 2) Bill 2017. All of the witnesses should feel free to respond to the questions that will be asked by my colleagues. The questions will not be restricted to any one of the witnesses. Any member of the panel will be more than welcome to contribute.

Before we begin, I draw the attention of witnesses to the fact 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 this 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. 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 House or an official either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable. I remind those who have mobile phones to turn them off. I invite Mr. Murray to make his opening statement.