Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Tuesday, 24 April 2018

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation

Cost of Doing Business in Ireland: Discussion (Resumed)

4:00 pm

Photo of Mary ButlerMary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome from the Irish Pharmacy Union, Mr. Daragh Connolly, IPU president; Ms Ann-Marie Horan, IPU executive member; and Mr. Jim Curran, IPU director of communications and strategy. I welcome from the Association of Fine Jewellers, Mr. Damian Duggan, secretary treasurer of the Association of Fine Jewellers. The organisation was formerly called Retail Jewellers of Ireland. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss the cost of doing business with particular emphasis on the impact of crime on business.

In accordance with procedure I am required to read out the following notice. 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.

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 our guests that each presentation should be no more than five minutes. The presentations submitted by today's attendees have been circulated to members. I call on Mr. Daragh Connolly to begin his presentation to the committee.

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