Neale Richmond (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

From IBEC I welcome Dr. Pat Ivory, director of EU and international affairs, and Mr. Arnold Dillon, head of strategic campaigns. I also welcome Mr. Neil McDonnell, chief executive of ISME. We heard from both organisations in our first round of meetings more than two years ago. We have just had a lengthy session with the Central Bank of Ireland and would like to hear about what IBEC and ISME are doing and get their general overview.

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.

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 joint committee. However, if they are directed by it to cease giving evidence on a particular matter and continue to so do, 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 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.

I will take the opening statements. We will then take questions from committee members.