Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I remind members, visitors and those in the Gallery to ensure their mobile phones are switched off or in airplane mode for the duration of this meeting as they interfere with the broadcasting equipment, even when on silent mode. I welcome my constituency colleague, Deputy David Cullinane and his adviser, Dr. Conor McCabe to the meeting to begin our hearings on the Banded Hours Contract Bill 2016, which was deferred for 12 months by resolution of the Dáil of 7 July 2016 to allow this committee to carry out scrutiny of the Bill, to consider submissions and to hold hearings.

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. If they are directed by the committee to cease giving evidence in relation to a particular matter and they continue to do so, 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 members 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 invite Deputy Cullinane to make his presentation.