David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Apologies have been received from Deputy Anne Ferris and Senator Tony Mulcahy. I wish to advise members that Deputy Corcoran Kennedy has been discharged from the committee. Deputy Gabrielle McFadden is her replacement and I am sure she will join me in thanking Deputy Corcoran Kennedy for her service to the committee, in particular her work on compiling an important report on sexual and domestic violence. I welcome Deputy McFadden here today and look forward to working with her for the next while.
The purpose of this meeting is to have an engagement with representatives from the Licensed Vintners Association and other groups on the topic of aggressive begging on the streets. I understand a briefing has been circulated to members. I welcome Ms Deirdre Devitt, the Licensed Vintners Association, Mr. Richard Guiney, DublinTown, Mr. David Brennan, Dublin City Business Association, Mr. Tim Fenn, Irish Hotels Federation, Mr. Adrian Cummins, Restaurants Association of Ireland and Mr. Martin Harte, Temple Bar Company.
I will invite witnesses to make opening remarks of approximately five minutes which will be followed by a question-and-answer session with members. We will have a follow-up meeting on this topic with other organisations in the new year. As this is the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality we are interested in public order but are anxious not to stray into other areas such as health and housing which are under the remit of other committees.
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 directed by it to cease giving evidence on a particular matter 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 or an entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable. Members should also be aware that under salient rules of the Chair 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 call on Ms Devitt to make her opening remarks.