Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

We are now moving to the next item of business, which is implications for employees of changes to the pension age. This is the second item for consideration by the committee today in public session. I welcome from the Department of Social Protection, Dr. Orlaigh Quinn, Ms Patricia Murphy and Mr. Niall Egan; from the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Mr. Martin Shanaher, Ms Deirdre Sweeney and Ms Siobhán O’Connell; and from ICTU, Mr. Fergus Whelan.
Before I call on the first speaker I wish to draw the witnesses' attention to the fact that by virtue of section 17(2)(l) of the Defamation Act 2009, they are protected by absolute privilege in respect of the evidence they give to the committee. If they are directed by it to cease giving evidence on a particular subject and continue to do so, 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 any person, persons or an entity either by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable. The statements they make will be published on the committee's website following this meeting. The same is true for members, in respect of the long-standing parliamentary practice. I ask the witnesses to turn off their mobile phones because they interfere with the broadcasting services. I call on Dr. Orlaigh Quinn to make her opening remarks on behalf of the Department of Social Protection.