Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome Ms Majella Fitzpatrick, Mr. Fergal O'Brien, chief economist and Mr. Tony Donohoe, head of education and social policy with the Irish Business and Employers Confederation, IBEC. I also welcome Ms Patricia Callan, director, Mr. Ian Martin, chairman and Mr. A. J. Noonan, a member of the Small Firms Association, SFA. Mr. Martin is also a managing director of management services and Mr. Noonan is managing director of Rhonellen Developments. I thank the witnesses for coming here today.

I had thought that we would meet the delegation earlier and I apologise for the delay. I hope that the delegations have found the earlier part of the meeting informative and useful. Due to a change in the ministerial rota for parliamentary questions some of the Opposition spokespersons are missing. Deputies Peadar Tóibín, Dara Calleary and John Lyons are in the Chamber attending Question Time. The Deputies wanted to hear the presentation and I apologise on their behalf.

Part of today's meeting deals with pre-budget submissions. I can arrange another meeting between now and December if we need it or the delegations want to attend again to debate the submissions. We have the transcripts but I have no problem arranging another meeting.

Today we are also discussing employment and youth unemployment for which my committee is compiling a report that it will finalise shortly. I hope its findings will inform the budget and the action plan for jobs next year. A working group comprising a small section of the committee has been established and everything that the delegation says today will inform its findings. Please do not worry because all of the transcripts and data will be used.

The groups have been here before so I will not repeat the rules of the committee. I call on Mr. O'Brien to commence his briefing. He will be followed by Mr. Martin.