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

I welcome our witnesses this morning: Ms Patricia King, general secretary of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, ICTU; Mr. Billy Wall, chair of the congress construction industry committee; Mr. Seamus Dooley, secretary of the National Union of Journalists, NUJ; and Mr. Brendan O'Hanlon, assistant general secretary of Fórsa. I will first invite our guests to make their presentation, and will then invite members to put questions. I remind members to confine their initial rounds of questions to about five minutes.

I draw the attention of witnesses 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. Witnesses 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 House or an official either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable. I remind members and witnesses to switch off their mobile phones.

I invite Ms King to make her opening statement. All witnesses are welcome to contribute during the questions and answers session.