Gerry Horkan (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy D'Arcy, and his team. Today we will discuss the current state of play with regard to the cost of insurance working group and the cost of insurance for businesses generally. The committee has been concerned about these matters for a significant time. We discussed the issue of insurance costs for small and medium-sized businesses in April. The Minister of State's opening statement has been circulated to members.

I wish to 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 do so, they are entitled thereafter only to 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 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 invite the Minister of State to make his opening statement.