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

The purpose of the meeting is to discuss the report produced by Senator Deirdre Clune entitled, A review of the ICT skills demand in Ireland, and future developments in the ICT sector. I welcome Mr. Sean O'Sullivan, managing director of Avego and founder of Open Ireland; Mr. Joe Cunningham, chairman, Ammeon; Mr. Paul Sweetman, director, ICT Ireland; and Mr. Colin Donnery, FRS Recruitment and past chairman of the National Recruitment Federation. As well as discussing the committee report, they will set out the initiatives they have taken through Open Ireland and other projects and give us a general overview of the position on ICT. We appreciate their presence.

Before we begin, I draw attention to the fact that by virtue of section 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 so do, 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 a person, persons or an entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable. 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 either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.

I invite Mr. O'Sullivan to make his presentation.