Dominic Hannigan (Meath East, Labour) | Oireachtas source

The first matter on our agenda is a discussion of the social dimension of Economic and Monetary Union. On behalf of the joint committee, I welcome Mr. Koos Richelle, director general, Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion at the European Commission. We are grateful that he has travelled from Brussels to appear before us. He is accompanied by Mr. Jonathan Claridge whom we all know from the European Commission Representation in Ireland.

There is a growing debate at European level on whether social indicators should play a larger role in how we consider EMU. The Commission has recently issued a communication on the social dimension of EMU which outlines how social indicators could be part of the formal economic surveillance associated with EMU.

These indicators include items such as long-term unemployment, household disposable income, the at-risk-of-poverty rate and inequality. We look forward to hearing the Commission's proposals on these indicators from Mr. Richelle.

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. 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 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 should 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 or an entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable.