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

I remind members, visitors and those in the public gallery to ensure their mobile phones are switched off for the duration of the meeting as they interfere with the broadcasting equipment even when on silent mode. I welcome Mr. Mark Fielding from ISME, Ms Tara Buckley from RGDATA, Mr. Sean Murphy from Retail Excellence Ireland, Ms Maeve McElwee from IBEC, Mr. Stephen McNally from the Irish Hotels Federation, and Mr. Adrian Cummins from the Restaurants Association of Ireland. I thank them for appearing to give presentations to the committee on the general scheme of the national minimum wage (low pay commission) Bill 2015. We received and circulated the submissions made by the witnesses so I ask them to address comments to the specific draft heads of the Bill.

The meeting is an opportunity to inform the committee about issues the witnesses might have with the heads of the Bill as drafted and to propose measures to address the issues. It is important that the time available to us be used constructively and for the intended purposes, as outlined. Due to the number of groups presenting, a time limit of no longer than five minutes for each presentation will be strictly adhered to. I will indicate when the groups are approaching the end of their time, at four minutes, so they will know they have one minute left.

All proposals will be considered by the committee when preparing the report for the Minister. I want to reassure you that the full content of the presentations which you have sent us will be taken into account, as well as the presentations and engagement here today.

Before we hear the presentations, 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 the evidence they are to give to the committee. However, if you are directed by the committee to cease giving evidence in relation to a particular matter and you continue to so do, you are entitled thereafter to only a qualified privilege in respect of your evidence. You are directed that only evidence connected with the subject matter of these proceedings is to be given and you are asked to respect the parliamentary practice to the effect that, where possible, you 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 each person individually to make opening statements and members will be then invited to ask questions. Members are reminded that they should state the number of the head to which they are referring and to whom they are indicating their question. I now invite Mr. Mark Fielding, CEO of ISME, to make his presentation.