Chairman:

I welcome Ms Bríd O'Brien, head of policy and media, Irish National Organisation of the Unemployed; Ms Patricia King, general secretary, Irish Congress of Trade Unions, ICTU; Dr. Tom Healy, director of Nevin Economic Research Institute, NERI. They will present as a joint ICTU-NERI delegation.

Before commencing, I wish to advise the witnesses that, by virtue of section 17(2)(l) of the Defamation Act 2009, they are protected by absolute privilege in respect of their evidence to this committee. 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 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 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 Members should not comment on, criticise or make charges against a person outside the House, or any official by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.

I remind our guests that their presentations should be of no more than five minutes duration, if possible. The presentations submitted by today's witnesses have been circulated to members. I ask Ms O'Brien to make her presentation.