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

I welcome members and thank them for participating in this meeting in line with exceptional circumstances and measures that we have to take due to Covid-19 pandemic. Members and others participating in the meeting room are asked to exercise personal responsibility in protecting themselves and others from the risk of contacting Covid-19. They are strongly advised to practise good hand hygiene and they will note that every second seat has been removed to facilitate social distancing. I urge those attending not to move any chair from its current position and to also maintain an appropriate level of social distance during and after the meeting. Masks should be worn at all times during the meeting, except when speaking. I ask for full co-operation on this. Members participating in the meeting remotely are required to do so from within the Leinster House complex.

The purpose of this meeting is an engagement with the Workplace Relations Commission on resourcing and capacity. Since the establishment of the committee, the resourcing and capacity of the Workplace Relations Commission and how it addresses issues facing migrant workers have been raised on a number of occasions. I am pleased we have an opportunity today to discuss this matter with Mr. Liam Kelly, director general, Mr. John Kelly, director of information, and Mr. Brendan Hogan, assistant principal officer and regional manager, Workplace Relations Commission, and from the International Transport Workers Federation, which was recently in contact with the committee regarding this matter, Mr. Michael O'Brien, fisheries campaign lead. This discussion is focused solely at a general level. The committee has no remit to discuss or refer to cases relating to any individual employer or employee. I request that members and witnesses respect this throughout the meeting.

Before beginning I will notify the witnesses about parliamentary privilege and explain some limitations to that privilege in the practice of the Houses in regard to references that might be made to other persons in 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, some of today's witnesses are giving their evidence remotely from a place outside the parliamentary precincts and, as such, may not benefit from the same level of immunity from legal proceedings as witnesses who are physically present. Witnesses have already been advised that they may think it appropriate to take legal advice on this matter.

Witnesses are again reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice 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 may be regarded as damaging to the good name of the person or entity. Therefore, if their statements are potentially defamatory regarding an identifiable person or entity, they will be directed to discontinue their remarks. It is imperative they comply with any such direction.

The opening statements have been circulated to members. I thank the Workplace Relations Commission for the comprehensive briefing material it submitted, which has been also circulated to members. I now invite Mr. Liam Kelly to make his opening statement on behalf of the Workplace Relations Commission.