Joe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

This morning we continue our hearings on the related topics of sustaining small rural and community businesses, smart communities and remote working. The committee has met representatives of several Departments, agencies, representative bodies and other bodies on the theme of sustaining small rural and community business and we are delighted to have representatives of Enterprise Ireland and Offaly County Council's local enterprise office, LEO, with us today. The committee has also considered the implications of Brexit for communities in rural and urban Ireland. We would be interested to hear how we might mitigate the effects of Brexit. Investment in rural broadband and digital technologies opens up opportunities for rural Ireland. At the last meeting of the committee on 6 February we discussed smart communities and remote working with the Minister of State at the Department of Rural and Community Development, Deputy Canney, and representatives of Grow Remote.

Today we welcome representatives of Abodoo, which has worked with Wexford County Council in preparing a talent heat map for County Wexford. Abodoo is also involved in local hubs, Enterprise Ireland, local authorities and LEOs in encouraging local employment. Representatives from HQ Tralee are also present and there is an interesting story about its successes with co-working hubs in Tralee and Listowel in County Kerry. I welcome the following witnesses to the meeting: Mr. Mark Christal, Mr. Michael Brougham and Ms Rowena Dwyer from Enterprise Ireland; Ms Anna Marie Delaney, Ms Orla Martin and Ms Geraldine Beirne from Offaly County Council LEO; Ms Vanessa Tierney and Ms Louise O'Conor from Abodoo; and Mr. Ken Tobin of HQ Tralee and Tralee Chamber Alliance.

I remind members, staff, witnesses and people in the Public Gallery to turn off their mobile telephones as they interfere with the sound system and make it difficult to report on the meeting. Please check that your mobile telephones are switched off. In addition, members and witnesses should ensure that nothing is obstructing the microphones in front of them.

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 Chairman 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 House or an official either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable. It is proposed that any submissions, opening statements or other documents supplied by the witnesses to the committee for this meeting be published on the website of the committee. Is that agreed? Agreed.

I invite Mr. Mark Christal of Enterprise Ireland to make his opening statement.