Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome everybody - guests and staff - to this meeting of the Joint Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform, and Taoiseach. I need to bring a couple of issues to people's attention before the meeting proper starts. Apologies have been received from the Chairman, Deputy John McGuinness.

I remind members and participants to switch off their mobile phones because they cause interference. For the purposes of the Official Report, I have been requested to identify members when they are called to speak. Members are also requested to remove their face coverings when speaking in order to ensure that their contributions can be recorded adequately. They can put their face coverings back on when they have concluded their contributions.

We have a number of witnesses with whom to discuss the Consumer Credit (Amendment) Bill 2018, a Private Member's Bill. We extend a welcome to our guest speakers and to those who may be watching in on the Oireachtas channel. We are joined by: Ms Annmarie O'Connor, business manager, national development, Money Advice & Budgeting Service, MABS; Ms Michelle O'Hara, manager, south Leinster, MABS; Mr. Michael Doherty, regional manager, north Munster, MABS; Mr. Paul Joyce, senior policy analyst, Free Legal Advice Centres, FLAC; and Mr. Ed Farrell, CEO, Irish League of Credit Unions.

The purpose of today's meeting is to continue detailed scrutiny of the Consumer Credit (Amendment) Bill 2018, a Private Member's Bill tabled by Deputy Pearse Doherty. This is the final public hearing on the Bill in advance of the preparation of the committee's report.

The format is that Ms O’Connor will give a brief opening statement, followed by Mr. Joyce and then Mr. Farrell. The opening remarks will be followed by a question and answer session with the members. I call Ms O’Connor to make her opening statement.