Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome our witnesses in committee room 2. They represent Fórsa, SIPTU and the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation.

I advise our witnesses that by virtue of section 17(2)(l) of the Defamation Act 2009 - I have just realised I am wearing my mask while making a contribution - witnesses are protected by absolute privilege in respect of their evidence to this committee. If they are directed by the committee to cease giving evidence on a particular matter and 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 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.

We will begin with the Fórsa trade union. I call on Ms Keogh to introduce the delegation and to briefly outline the key points of her submission to the committee, which has already been circulated to members.