Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The committee is now resumed in public session. I remind members, visitors and those in the Public Gallery to ensure their mobile phones are switched off or on flight mode for the duration of this meeting as they interfere with the broadcasting equipment, even when on silent mode. I welcome Mr. Vincent Jennings, CEO of the Convenience Stores and Newsagents Association, CSNA, Ms Tara Buckley, director of Retail Grocery Dairy and Allied Trades Association, RGDATA, and Mr. Tommy Smith, HR consultant with RGDATA. I also welcome Ms Lorraine Higgins, head of public affairs and communication for Retail Excellence Ireland. This is the second session of this meeting on the Banded Hours Contract Bill. I am sorry to keep the witnesses waiting. Our first session went on for quite a while.

Before we commence, 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 this committee. If they are directed by the committee to cease giving evidence in respect of 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.

I remind our guests that presentations should be no more than five minutes' duration. As the briefing documents already have been circulated to us it would be appreciated if the witnesses could keep the presentations short.

I invite Mr. Jennings to make his presentation to the committee. I apologise for the low numbers. There was a vote in the Seanad but they will filter back to us in a couple of minutes.