Marcella Corcoran Kennedy (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I remind members, witnesses and those in the visitors Gallery to please ensure their mobile telephones are switched off for the duration of this meeting as they interfere with the broadcasting equipment even when on silent mode.

I welcome Mr. David Foden of Eurofound; Ms Grainne O’Toole of the Migrant Rights Centre; Ms Alice Mary Higgins, National Women's Council of Ireland; Sr. Bernadette MacMahon, Vincentian Partnership for Social Justice and Ms Esther Lynch of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, ICTU, and I thank them for coming before the committee today.

They will make presentations on the general scheme of the National Minimum Wage (Low Pay Commission) Bill 2015. We have received the witnesses’ submissions and they have been circulated to committee members. I ask that they please address their comments to the draft heads of the Bill.

This meeting gives witnesses an opportunity to inform the committee of problems they may have with the heads of the Bill as drafted and to propose measures to address these issues. It is important that the time available to us be used constructively and for the intended purpose I have outlined. Due to the number of groups presenting today I will adhere strictly to the time limit of no longer than five minutes for presentations. The committee will consider all proposals when preparing its report for the Minister.

Before we hear the presentations and in accordance with procedure, I am required to read the following. 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 they are directed by the committee to cease giving evidence on a particular matter and they continue to so do, they are entitled thereafter only to a 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 they are asked to respect the parliamentary practice to the effect that, where possible, they should not criticise or make charges against any person, persons or 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 House or an official either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable. I will call on witnesses to make their opening statements and then members will be invited to ask questions. Members should state the number of the head to which they are referring when questioning the witnesses.

I invite Mr. David Foden, head of the working conditions and industrial relations unit at Eurofound, to make his presentation.