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

We are joined by Mr. Justin Moran, head of advocacy and communications for Age Action and Mr. Gerard Scully, senior information officer of Age Action. Members have been circulated with the opening statement as well as a document entitled Towards a Fairer State Pension for Women Pensioners which was originally submitted by Age Action in February. I ask the witnesses to make their opening statements. Members will then be invited to address questions to them. I ask members to keep their initial questions to five minutes and we will come back for additional rounds.

I wish to draw attention to the fact that 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 committee. However, 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, persons or entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable.

The opening statements submitted will be published on the committee website after the meeting. 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 members and witnesses to turn off their mobile phones or switch them to flight mode.

We will first have Mr. Moran's opening statement and I will then afford members an opportunity to pose questions.