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

The topic of today's meeting is consideration of the case for extending eligibility in respect of certain employment activation measures.
I draw the attention of the witnesses to the fact that by virtue of section 17(2)(l) of the Defamation Act 2009, witnesses are protected by absolute privilege in respect of their evidence to this committee. However, if they are directed by the committee to cease giving evidence on a particular matter and they continue to do so, they are entitled thereafter only to a qualified privilege in respect of their evidence. Witnesses are directed that only evidence connected with the subject matter of these proceedings is to be given and are asked to respect the parliamentary practice to the effect that, where possible, they should not criticise or make charges against any person or persons or entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable. I also wish to advise witnesses that the opening statements they submitted to the committee will be published on the committee's website following the meeting. Members are likewise reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that I have outlined.
I ask everybody to ensure their mobile phones are on flight or aeroplane mode or switched off as they interfere with the broadcasting equipment.
The Department of Social Protection has put in place a range of activation measures in recent years to facilitate unemployed persons, which include the JobBridge scheme and so on. Concerns have been expressed by groups that certain people who could benefit from such measures are currently not eligible to apply for them, and members of the committee have raised that issue a number of times.
To brief the committee on this matter, I am pleased to welcome Ms Bríd O'Brien and Ms Lorraine Hennessy representing the Irish National Organisation of the Unemployed; Ms Alice-Mary Higgins and Dr. Mary Murphy representing the National Women's Council of Ireland; and Mr. John McKeon, Mr. Niall Egan and Mr. Eoin O'Sheaghda representing the Department of Social Protection. To get the discussion under way, I invite Ms O'Brien to make the presentation on behalf of the Irish National Organisation of the Unemployed.