John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I note that the minutes of our meeting of Wednesday, 24 May 2023 were agreed earlier in private session. Apologies have been received from Senator Higgins. Today the committee is meeting with the assistant Garda Commissioner and officials from the Department of Justice on the topic of authorised push payment fraud. We are joined from An Garda Síochána by Assistant Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly and Detective Superintendent Michael Cryan; and from the Department of Justice by Mr. Ben Ryan, assistant secretary, and Ms Kate Oliver, assistant principal. They are all welcome.

Witnesses who are physically present or who give evidence from within the parliamentary precincts are protected pursuant to the constitutional statute by absolute privilege. If not present, they may be only entitled to limited privilege. They are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice that 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 or otherwise engage in speech that might be regarded as damaging to the person or the entity's good name.

I invite our witnesses to make their opening statements. We will first hear from Assistant Commissioner Kelly, to be followed by Mr. Ryan.