Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

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 the meeting as they interfere with the broadcasting equipment even when on silent mode.

I welcome Dr. Desmond Ryan, School of Law, Trinity College Dublin, and Mr. Ronnie Neville, employment lawyer and Ms Joanne Hyde, chair of the employment law committee, Law Society of Ireland to the meeting to discuss the Banded Hours Contract Bill 2016.

Before we commence, in accordance with procedure, I am required to read out 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 on a particular matter and they continue to so do, 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 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 they 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 remind the witnesses that their presentations should not be more than five minutes' duration. The presentation submitted by today's witnesses has been circulated to members. Three Senators were here but they had to leave because there is a Bill being discussed in the Seanad and they were required for the purpose of votes. When today's meeting started we had a much larger attendance.

I ask Dr. Ryan to begin the presentations.