Liam Twomey (Wexford, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome Mr. John Dolan from the Disability Federation of Ireland, DFI; Mr. Pat McCormack and Mr. John Enright from the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association, ICMSA; and Ms Yvonne Woods and Ms Yvonne O'Sullivan from Free Legal Advice Centres Limited, FLAC. Submissions received by the committee and a summary paper were circulated to members in advance of the meeting. The format of the meeting will comprise brief introductory comments from the witnesses, after which we will proceed directly to questions and answers.

I remind everyone present that all mobile phones must be switched off. 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 committee. However, if a witness is directed by the committee to cease giving evidence in regard to a particular matter and continues to do so, the witness is entitled thereafter only to a qualified privilege in respect of his evidence. Witnesses are directed that only evidence connected with the subject matter of these proceedings is to be given and are asked to respect the parliamentary practice that, where possible, they should not criticise or make charges against any person, persons or entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable. Members are reminded of the long-standing ruling of the Chair to the effect that they should not comment on, criticise or make charges against a person outside the House or an official either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.
On behalf of the committee, I apologise for the small number of members present for this session. We have been holding these meetings for the past several days and it is the way life works that members have been dragged away to deal with numerous other matters. It is important, however, that the witnesses have an opportunity to set out their pre-budget submissions for the committee because they will form part of the submission we are making to the Minister for Finance. I invite the representatives of the DFI to address the committee, followed by the ICMSA and FLAC.