Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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We are having an engagement on the future of Europe with Dr. Pat Ivory, director of EU and international affairs with IBEC. I welcome him and his colleagues here today and thank them for joining with us. We have already heard from one group today about their thoughts on the future of Europe and we are interested in hearing what members of IBEC think, as representatives of employers and businesses in this country.

I am sorry that I have to do this but I must briefly remind everyone again about the rules on privilege in Parliament. 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. By virtue of section 17(2)(l) of the Defamation Act 2009, witnesses are protected by absolute privilege in respect of their evidence to this committee. If they are directed by the committee 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. I invite Dr. Ivory to make his opening statement and after that we will take questions from members. I thank Dr. Ivory and Ms Kathryn O'Donovan for their attendance today.