Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We commence session 2 in public session. On behalf of the committee, I welcome Mr. Kevin Sherry, executive director of global business development, and Mr. Mark Christal, manager of the regions and entrepreneurship division, Enterprise Ireland; Mr. Neil McDonnell, chief executive of ISME; Professor Stephen Roper, director of the enterprise research centre of Warwick Business School; Dr. Jane Bourke, senior lecturer in economics at UCC; Mr. Sven Spollen-Behrens, director of the Small Firms Association, SFA; Ms Rebecca Harrison, managing director of Fishers of Newtownmountkennedy; Mr. Fergal O'Brien, director of policy and public affairs at IBEC; Mr. Gerard Brady, head of tax and fiscal policy at IBEC, and Dr. Tom Healy, director of the Nevin Economic Research Institute. I thank them for coming and engaging with the committee in its consideration of this important topic.

Before we continue, I draw their 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. I advise them that any opening statements made to the committee will be published on the committee's website after this meeting.

To commence proceedings, I invite the committee's rapporteur, Senator Pádraig Ó Céidigh, to make a few introductory remarks. I will then invite each witness to make a short presentation. They may share time with colleagues if they wish. If so, I ask that they indicate the intention to do so when invited to speak. After the presentations, there will be time for questions and comments from Senators and for responses from the witnesses.