Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

May he rest in peace. I will read a notice with regard to parliamentary privilege. Witnesses are protected by absolute privilege in respect of their evidence to the committee. However, if they are directed by the Chair 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 or entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable.

Participants in the committee meeting from a location outside the parliamentary precincts are asked to note that the constitutional protections afforded to those participating from within the parliamentary precincts do not extend to them. No clear guidance can be given on whether or the extent to which their participation is covered by absolute privilege of a statutory nature.

We have received the opening statements, which have been circulated to members. We are limited in our time due to Covid-19 safety restrictions. The committee has agreed that the opening statements be taken as read so we can use the full session for questions and answers. I now invite questions from the members. I call Deputy Kehoe.