Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

We will commence our scrutiny of COM (2012) 617, a proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and the Council on the fund for European aid for the most deprived. The joint committee has previously discussed this issue with its EU policy clerk. I welcome from the Department of Social Protection Ms Orlaigh Quinn, assistant secretary, and Mr. T. J. Fleming who will advise us on the proposal and the Minister's position in the negotiations. I also welcome Mr. Cormac Clancy, principal officer at Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government.

Before we commence, I advise that, by virtue of section 17(2)(l) of the Defamation Act 2009, witnesses are protected by absolute privilege in respect of the evidence they are to give to the committee. If they are directed by it to cease giving evidence on a particular matter and continue to so do, they are entitled thereafter only to 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 asked to respect the parliamentary practice to the effect that, where possible, they should not criticise or make charges against a person or persons or an entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable. Members are reminded of the long-standing ruling of the Chair to the effect that they should not comment on, criticise or make charges against a person outside the Houses or an official by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable. I also advise Dr. Quinn that her opening statement will be published on the committee's website following this meeting. I now invite her to make her presentation.