John Paul Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the General Secretary of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, Ms Patricia King, and Dr. Tom McDonnell, senior economist at the Nevin Economic and Research Institute. They will be dealing with fiscal outlook, competitiveness and labour market developments. Before we begin, I remind members and the witnesses to switch their mobile phones because they affect sound quality, recording and the transmission of the meeting.

Witnesses are protected by absolute privilege in respect of the evidence that they give to the committee. However, 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 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 longstanding parliamentary practice to the effect that members should not comment on, criticise or make charges against either a person outside the Houses or an official either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.

I invite Ms King to make her opening statement.