Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I ask members and witnesses to turn off their mobile phones as they interfere with the recording equipment. The last meeting was held in private session on Monday morning and one item which was discussed was the election of a Vice Chairman. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh was deemed elected and I congratulate him and look forward to working with him.

I welcome the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection, Deputy Heather Humphreys. She is accompanied by her officials Ms Dearbháil Nic Giolla Mhicíl, principal officer, and Mr. Henry Fottrell, assistant principal officer. The Minister must leave at 9.45 a.m. to attend business in the Dáil at the Convention Centre, at which stage Mr. Fottrell will participate.

The committee has invited the Minister before it to discuss the Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union (Consequential Provisions) Bill 2020 as it is clear that these matters are of huge significance as we are just over 2,000 hours away from the end of the Brexit transition period and subsequent withdrawal of the UK from the European Union.

Ireland and the United Kingdom have had a long history of reciprocal co-operation regarding social security and on many other matters. These arrangements are the bedrock of relations between our two states. This relationship of mutual benefit and co-operation serves both Irish and British people extremely well. From January we must continue to develop and deepen that overarching relationship. However, amid the uncertainty of Brexit all eventualities must be planned for. These are important concerns which impact upon the lives of people on an everyday basis and all aspects of our economy and society. I thank the Minister for being with us.

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 evidence they are required to give to a committee. If in the course of committee proceedings 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 a Member of either House of the Oireachtas, a person outside the House or an official by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable.