John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

We are dealing with No. 5 on our agenda, which relates to tracker mortgages and differential pricing in insurance. I welcome the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman, Mr. Ger Deering, and his colleagues. We will be discussing the final report of the Central Bank on its examination into tracker mortgages and will then deal with the practice of differential pricing in insurance.

I wish to advise the witnesses 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 the committee. However, if they are directed by the committee to cease giving evidence on a particular matter and they continue to so do, they are entitled thereafter only to a 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 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 House or an official either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.

I invite Mr. Deering to make his opening statement.