Dominic Hannigan (Meath East, Labour) | Oireachtas source

The purpose of our meeting is to discuss Europe's youth unemployment crisis. I am delighted on behalf of the committee to welcome Mr. Paddy Cosgrave, who is the founder and organiser of the Dublin Web Summit, which has been described as Europe's largest technology gathering. He also organises Founders, which is an annual gathering of 150 of the world's leading technology company founders.

As we know there is no more urgent issue facing Ireland at the moment than unemployment, particularly youth unemployment. Our rate of youth unemployment is more than 30% and some other EU member states are suffering more - some with rates of up to 50%. This afternoon's meeting with Mr. Cosgrave gives the committee an opportunity to discuss practical steps that might be taken with somebody with a very strong track record in youth entrepreneurship. As somebody working at the coalface of the knowledge economy, Mr. Cosgrave has a particular insight into opportunities in the fast-paced IT and web sectors.

Before I ask Mr. Cosgrave to make his opening remarks, I remind members of a long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that Members should not comment on, criticise or make charges against a person outside the Houses, or any official by name in such a way as to make him or her readily identifiable. By virtue of section 17(2)(l) of the Defamation Act 2009, witnesses are protected by absolute privilege in respect of the evidence you are to give 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 ask Mr. Cosgrave to make his opening remarks.