Dara Murphy (Cork North Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

As mobile phones can interfere with the broadcasting equipment, I ask that they be powered off.

The first matter on our agenda is a discussion of the social dimension of Economic and Monetary Union. I welcome the representatives from the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, Dr. Peter Rigney; the Irish National Organisation of the Unemployed, INOU, Mr. John Farrell, development officer; and Social Justice Ireland, Dr. Seán Healy, director. We had an interesting session yesterday with Mr. Koos Richelle, director general for employment, social affairs and inclusion at the European Commission. It was interesting to learn from him that this was the first of the European Union member state parliaments to engage with him on a relatively new area of work. There is a growing debate at European level - not before time some might say - on the role social indicators can play in Economic and Monetary Union.

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.

I invite Dr. Rigney to make his opening remarks.