Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 6 December 2017

Committee on Budgetary Oversight

Fiscal Assessment Report: Irish Fiscal Advisory Council

2:00 pm

Photo of John LahartJohn Lahart (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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I remind witnesses and members to turn off their mobile phones as the interference from mobile phones affects the sound quality and transmission of the meeting. I welcome Mr. Seamus Coffey, chairman of the Irish Fiscal Advisory Council, IFAC. He is accompanied by Mr. Michael Tutty, Dr. Martina Lawless, Mr. Sebastian Barnes, Mr. Eddie Casey and others who Mr. Coffey might introduce if he needs to. I thank the witnesses for making themselves available to the committee today. We are meeting about the fiscal assessment report.

Before we hear the witness's opening statement I want to draw attention to the position of privilege which applies to officials who may contribute to proceedings. Witnesses are protected by absolute privilege in respect of their evidence to the joint committee. However, if they are directed by it to cease giving evidence on a particular matter and continue to do so, 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 any person 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 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.