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

Apologies have been received from Deputy Bailey. I welcome everyone to the meeting. I remind members with mobile phones to switch them to flight mode or off completely.

In accordance with standard procedures agreed by the Committee on Procedure and Privileges for paperless committees, all documentation for the meeting has been circulated to members on the document database. Copies of the Minister's opening statement are available if anybody does not have one.

The purpose of today's meeting is to afford the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection, Deputy Regina Doherty, an opportunity to comment on the Indecon reports on local employment services and job clubs. In a few moments, I will invite the Minister to make her opening statement after which members will have an opportunity to raise questions with her.

I draw the attention of the committee 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. 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 thank the Minister for attending. She realises that this is a two-part process and I am sure she has seen the presentation made by the witnesses who came before the committee earlier in the week. In the context of the points they raised and the presentation they made, we are interested to hear the comments of the Minister on the matters as they presented them.