Dominic Hannigan (Meath East, Labour) | Oireachtas source

This is our last session on the Europe 2020 strategy, which is the EU strategy for sustainable and inclusive growth. In July, the committee invited submissions from the public on the strategy and today we have the opportunity to directly engage with stakeholders and hear their views as articulated in their submissions. On behalf of the committee I thank all of the organisations that provided us with written submissions. I would like to welcome Councillors John Sheehan and Maria Byrne who are both representing the Committee of the Regions, which has been in front of the committee in the past. I also welcome Councillor Neale Richmond and Mr. Joe Bishop from European Movement Ireland, and Ms Barbara Gerstenberger from the organisation Eurofound.

Before we hear from our guests, I remind members of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that members should not comment on, make charges or criticise a person outside the House or an official either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.

By virtue of section 17(2)(1) of the 2009 Defamation Act, witnesses are protected by absolute privilege in respect of the evidence you are about to give to the committee. If you are directed by the committee to cease giving evidence in relation to a particular matter and you continue to do so, you are entitled thereafter only to qualified privilege in respect of your evidence. You are directed that only evidence connected with the subject matter of today's proceedings is to be given. You are asked to respect parliamentary practice to the effect that where possible you should not criticise or make charges against any person or entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable.

We will start with Councillor John Sheehan from the Committee of the Regions.