Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I remind members, visitors and those in the Visitors Gallery to ensure their mobile phones are switched off or left in flight mode for the duration of the meeting as they interfere with the broadcasting equipment, even when left in silent mode.

I welcome from the Irish Hotels Federation Mr. Joe Dolan, president, and Mr. Tim Fenn, chief executive; from the Small Firms Association Ms Patricia Callan, director, and Ms Ciara McGuone, executive; and from the Restaurants Association of Ireland Mr. Adrian Cummins, chief executive, and Ms Kim Leonard, public affairs and membership services manager. We are discussing the Banded Hours Contract Bill 2016 which was deferred for 12 months by resolution of the Dáil, dated 7 July 2016, to allow the committee to engage in scrutiny of it, consider submissions and 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 joint committee. However, if they are directed by it to cease giving evidence on a particular matter and continue to so do, 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 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 Houses or an official, either 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. The presentations submitted by today's attendees have been circulated to members. I invite Mr. Fenn to make his presentation to the committee.