Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 17 October 2012

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Social Protection

Community Employment Scheme: Discussion with SIPTU

11:00 am

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

I welcome our guests from SIPTU who have asked us to allow them address this meeting. Here with us today are Mr. Darragh O'Connor, community organising sector organiser; Ms Doreen O'Connor, community employment participant Treasure Tots crèche, Ballyfermot, Mr. Seamus Briscoe, community employment supervisor and chairman of the SIPTU national supervisor committee, and Mr. David Connolly.

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 by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable. By virtue of 17(2)(l) of the Defamation Act 2009, 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 persons or entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable.

I now invite Mr. O'Connor to make his opening statement.

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