Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

At our recent meeting on the Department of Social Protection's main policy goal of minimising unemployment, we considered measures to integrate those with disabilities into the workforce and entitlement to the self-employed. Today, we are considering that policy goal and initiatives in the Department to review community employment schemes. I welcome our guests from the Department of Social Protection to discuss the matter with us. When they conclude we will have a separate presentation from SIPTU. I welcome Mr. Oliver Egan, assistant secretary of the information services division; Ms Mary Donnelly, principal officer of the employment support division; Mr. T.J. Fleming, principal officer of the project office; and Mr. John Lee, assistant principal in the employment support division.

Members are reminded of a long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that Members should not comment on, criticise or make charges against a person outside the House, or any official by name 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 you are directed by the committee to cease giving evidence in relation to a particular matter and you continue to so do, you are entitled thereafter only to a qualified privilege in respect of your evidence. You are directed that only evidence connected with the subject matter of these proceedings is to be given and you are asked to respect the parliamentary practice to the effect that, where possible, you should not criticise or make charges against any persons or entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable.

I invite Mr. Egan to make his presentation.