Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

No apologies have been received. The impact of Covid-19 on driving instructors is a follow-on theme from our last meeting with the Road Safety Authority. The purpose of the first part of our meeting today is to discuss the impact Covid-19 is having on driving instructors.

On behalf of the committee, I welcome to today's meeting from the approved driving instructors, ADI, branch of the Unite trade union, Mr. Dominic Brophy, chairperson, Mr. Darragh Dunne, secretary, Mr. Aidan Jordan, learning representative, and Ms Jean O'Dowd, regional officer. All are all most welcome. We have received correspondence from Mr. Fred O'Reilly, chairperson of the approved driving instructor stakeholders' forum. We had issued an invite but at a late stage and we want to apologise for that. We would welcome the contribution of Mr. Fred O'Reilly and his colleagues in the stakeholders' forum and we hope that Mr. O'Reilly and the approved driving instructor stakeholders' forum could appear before the committee at a time of their choosing at a future date.

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 the statements of a witness are potentially defamatory in respect of an identifiable person or entity, the witness will be directed to discontinue his or her remarks. It is imperative that witnesses comply with any such direction.

Witnesses attending remotely from outside the Leinster House campus should note there is some limitation on parliamentary privilege and, as such, they may not benefit from the same level of immunity from legal proceedings as witnesses physically present. Witnesses participating in this meeting from a jurisdiction outside the State are advised that they should also be mindful of their domestic law and how it may apply to the evidence they give.

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.

I wish to remind members joining remotely that they are only allowed to participate in this meeting if they are physically located in the Leinster House campus. In this regard, I call on all members who are participating remotely to confirm prior to making their contribution to the meeting that they are on the grounds of the Leinster House campus. It is important for all members to be within the precincts. With Covid-19 we are unable to attend physically and members have to comply with the requirement that if they are making a contribution, they have to be physically on the precincts. I cannot question whether a member is or is not on the precincts, but it is respectful to other members who have taken time out to come here and be physically on the precincts with the great limitation of not being able to be in the committee room. That should be honoured.

I call on Ms O'Dowd to make an opening statement.