Colm Brophy (Dublin South West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister for Finance, Deputy Paschal Donohoe, and his officials, Ms Scline Scott, principal officer, Mr. John Kinnane, principal officer, and Mr. Brendan O'Leary, assistant principal officer, to the committee. The opportunity to engage with the Minister is always welcome. I thank the witnesses for making themselves available to the committee for today's meeting, the purpose of which is to discuss the summer economic statement.

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 they are directed by it to cease giving evidence on a particular matter and they 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 an 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.