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

The minutes of the joint committee meeting of 6 December were agreed at our meeting this morning. We have apologies from Senator Maria Byrne and Deputy Matthews. In today's session, the committee will engage on the topic of the credit servicers directive. On behalf of the committee, I welcome the Master of the High Court, Mr. Edmund Honohan. We are honoured to have him here and we are looking forward to his contribution.

I ask members and witnesses to note that when they are here on campus they have full privilege. Should they be off campus when joining us, they only have partial privilege. 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.

We will commence our meeting with an opening statement from the master.