Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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I welcome Mr. Seán Murphy from Chambers Ireland, who will discuss access to finance for small and medium sized enterprises. I know he also wishes to discuss other issues, such as procurement etc., and we can do that at another meeting, if he so wishes. He will return in June. Before beginning the presentations I must go through the procedures. 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 a witness is directed by the committee to cease giving evidence in regard to a particular matter and continues to do so, the witness is entitled thereafter only to a qualified privilege in respect of his evidence. Witnesses are directed that only evidence connected with the subject matter of these proceedings is to be given and are asked to respect the parliamentary practice 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.