John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

As we have a quorum we will meet in public session. Apologies have been received from Deputy Maria Bailey.

Everyone is welcome to the meeting of the Joint Committee on Social Protection. I ask members if they could fully turn off their phones or to put them on flight mode as the phones interfere not only with the meeting itself but also its recording. I propose we go into private session to deal with some housekeeping matters.