John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The purpose of this meeting is to discuss with representatives of SIPTU, Services, Industrial, Professional and Technical Union, and the NBRU, the National Bus and Railworkers Union, the decision of the National Transport Authority, NTA, to tender 10% of routes operated by Bus Éireann and Dublin Bus.
On behalf of the committee, I welcome from SIPTU, Mr. Owen Reidy, divisional organiser, Mr. Willie Noone, Mr. John Murphy, Mr. Bill McCamley, senior union representative, Dublin Bus, and Mr. Peter O'Toole, senior union representative, Bus Éireann. From the NBRU, I welcome Mr. Dermot O'Leary, general secretary, Mr. Paul Rowsome, assistant general secretary, Mr. John Moloney and Mr. Thomas O'Connor.
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 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 or an entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable. I advise that any opening statement submitted to the committee will be published on its website after the meeting.
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. Owen Reidy to make his opening statement.