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

I welcome Mr. Gerry Light, assistant general secretary, Mr. Brian Forbes, national co-ordinator, Mr. David Gibney, communications officer, and Ms Aileen Morrissey, national co-ordinator for training and development, Mandate Trade Union. We will discuss its report entitled Decent work? - The Impact of the Recession on Low Paid Workers. I wish to apologise in advance. I had hoped many more members would attend today's meeting, but it clashes with party meetings among all the various parties. Some members hope to join the meeting at a later stage. If not, this discussion will feed into later ones and will be well received by others.

I advise the witnesses that, by virtue of section 17(2)(l) of the Defamation Act 2009, they are protected by absolute privilege in respect of their evidence to this committee. If they are directed by the committee 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. They are asked to respect the parliamentary practice to the effect that, where possible, they should not criticise or make charges against any person or 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 parliamentary practice to the effect that they should not comment on, criticise or make charges against a person outside the Houses or any official by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.

I invite Mr. Gerry Light to make his presentation.