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

I welcome the Minister of State at the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation, Deputy John Halligan, and his assistant, Ms Maureen O'Sullivan. I will invite the Minister of State to make a presentation and when he concludes I will afford members an opportunity to ask any questions they may have.

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 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 and 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. Once again, I remind those present that if they have a mobile phone they should turn it off. I invite the Minister of State to make his opening statement.