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

We are now in public session. I would like to welcome our guests from Irish Life, Mr. David Harney, group CEO, Mr. Shane O'Farrell, head of product and pricing, and Ms Teresa Kelly Oroz, head of public policy and governance. In a moment, I will invite them to make an opening statement and members might have a number of questions for them.

Before that, I wish to draw our guests' attention 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 you continue to so do, they are entitled thereafter only to a qualified privilege in respect of your evidence. They are directed that only evidence connected with the subject matter of these proceedings is to be given and 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 Houses or an official either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.

If our guests have mobile phones, they might switch them to flight mode or turn them off completely. Mr. Harney will now make his opening statement.