Maurice Quinlivan (Limerick City, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank members and witnesses for participating in this committee meeting in line with the exceptional circumstances due to Covid-19. I remind everyone that, apart from me and the members of the committee secretariat, members and witnesses are required to participate remotely and members are required to participate from within the Leinster House complex. Apologies have been received from Deputies Stanton and Duffy.

We will continue our consideration of the general scheme of the Employment Permits (Consolidation and Amendment) Bill 2019, which has been submitted to the committee by the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment for pre-legislative scrutiny. At the previous meeting we received a briefing from the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment. To discuss the matter today, I am pleased to welcome from the Irish Business and Employers Confederation, IBEC, Dr. Kara McGann and Ms Joanne Redmond, and from the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, ICTU, Mr. Liam Berney.

Before we start, I will explain to the witnesses some limitations to parliamentary privilege and the practice of the Houses regarding reference that may be made to other persons in their evidence. The evidence of witnesses physically present or who give evidence from within the parliamentary precincts is protected pursuant to both the Constitution and statute by absolute privilege. However, today's witnesses are to give evidence remotely from a location outside the parliamentary precincts. As such, they may not benefit from the same level of immunity from legal proceedings as witnesses physically present.

Witnesses are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that they should not criticise or make charges against any person or entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable or otherwise engage in speech that might be regarded as damaging to the good name of the person or entity. Therefore, if their statements are potentially defamatory to an identifiable person or entity, they will be directed to discontinue their remarks. It is imperative that they comply with any such direction.

Opening statements have already been circulated to all members. To commence our consideration of this matter I now invite Dr. McGann from IBEC to make her opening statement.