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

Today's proceedings are in two parts; first, we will discuss and review the Action Plan for Jobs 2013 and discuss the priorities for the Action Plan for Jobs 2014. During the second session we will deal with EU matters, the departmental six-monthly report submitted by the Minister under section 2(5) of the European Union (Scrutiny) Act 2002 in respect of the Department for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation for the period January to June 2013. We will also receive an update on developments in respect of COM (2013) 207, a proposal for a Directive regarding the disclose of non-financial and diversity information by certain legal companies and groups. I welcome Mr. John Murphy, Secretary General, Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation and his colleagues, Mr. William Parnell, Mr. Patrick Rochford, Ms Nina Brennan, and Mr. Martin Shanahan, CEO of Forfás. We discussed some of these issues at an earlier meeting.
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 joint 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.
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. Murphy to make his presentation on the Action Plan for Jobs.