Eileen Flynn (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome attendees to our virtual meeting this afternoon and thank the Business Committee for making it possible to have witnesses attend. I remind members that they must be in Leinster House, or in the grounds of the Convention Centre in Dublin, in order to attend this meeting. If any member attempts to participate from outside of Leinster House, I will ask them to leave the meeting. I remind witnesses that because they are giving evidence from outside of Leinster House, they may not have the same privilege as if they were in Leinster House. They may think it is appropriate to take legal advice on this matter. They are again reminded that they should not criticise or make charges against any person, or damage the good name of any person. They may stop if I say that I think they are breaking the rules.

To complete some committee business, I propose that the minutes of the last committee meeting, held on 4 May 2021, are agreed and approved. Agreed.

Today's hearings are on employment. Before we hear from our witnesses, I propose we publish their opening statements and submissions on the committee website. This includes our guests from Irish Business and Employers Federation, IBEC, Irish Congress of Trade Unions, ICTU and the Travellers in Prison Initiative. Is that agreed? Agreed.

This is the fifth meeting of the committee on Traveller employment. On behalf of the committee, I am delighted to welcome our witnesses today. From IBEC, Dr. Kara McGann, head of social policy and Ms Meadhbh Costello, policy executive; from ICTU, Mr. David Joyce, equality and social policy officer and Ms Lisa Connell, assistant general secretary of Fórsa; and from the Travellers in Prison Initiative, Ms Anne Costello, programme co-ordinator and Mr. Martin Ward, BBR manager, Galway Traveller Movement.

I suggest each organisation take five minutes to make its opening statement. We will then have questions and comments from members. Each member will have approximately five minutes and they may have the opportunity to speak a second time. I now call on Dr. Kara McGann to give her opening statement.