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

I will start with some public health arrangements. The proceedings of Oireachtas committees are now being conducted without the requirement for social distancing, with normal capacity in committee rooms having been restored, thankfully. However, committees are encouraged to take a gradual approach to this change. Members and witnesses have the opportunity to attend meetings in the relevant committee room or online through MS Teams. All those who are attending in the committee room environment should continue to wear masks throughout the meeting, which may only be removed when addressing the committee. They should continue to sanitise and wash hands appropriately and often, to avail of sanitisers outside and inside the committee rooms, to be respectful of all of people’s physical space and to practice good respiratory etiquette. Members and all of those who are in attendance are asked to exercise personal responsibilities in particular to themselves and others from the risk of contracting Covid-19. If members are participating in the meeting remotely, it must be from within the Leinster House complex, as everybody is well aware.

Apologies have so far been received only from Deputy Shanahan.

We will start the discussion today on the development of indigenous Irish enterprise. Last month, Enterprise Ireland announced its results for 2021. Among the highlights for the year was net job creation in companies that are supported by Enterprise Ireland, which increased by 11,911 in 2021. This was the highest annual increase in net employment reported by Enterprise Ireland. Employment increase across all economic sectors was particularly strong, with jobs growth in life sciences, business services and digital technology. There were increases in employment across all regions in Ireland. In total, 20,342 new jobs were created by companies with the support of Enterprise Ireland. The total employment by companies that were supported by Enterprise Ireland in 2021 was 207,894. Corresponding strong progress also was made through local employment offices. I am pleased, therefore, that today we have the opportunity to consider this matter.

I would like to welcome online from Enterprise Ireland Mr. Leo Clancy, CEO, Mr. Paul McKeown, chief financial officer and executive director and Dr. Carol Gibbons, divisional manager with responsibility for regions and local enterprise. I welcome from the network of local enterprise offices, Mr. Padraic McElwee, chairperson and Mr. Oisín Geoghegan, the former chair.

Before we start, I will read the note on privilege and a note to witnesses. I wish to explain some limitations to parliamentary privilege and the practice of the Houses in regard to references they may make to other persons in their evidence. The evidence of witnesses who are physically present or who give evidence from within the parliamentary precincts is protected, pursuant to both the Constitution and statute, by absolute privilege. However, witnesses are giving their evidence remotely from a place outside the parliamentary precincts and, as such, they may not benefit from the same level of immunity from legal proceedings as a witness who is physically present does. Witnesses have already been advised that they may think it appropriate to take legal advice on this matter, if they so wish. 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 might be regarded as damaging to the good name of the person or entity. Therefore, if their statements are potentially defamatory in relation to an identifiable person or entity, they will be directed to discontinue their remarks. It is imperative that they comply with any such direction.

The opening statements by Enterprise Ireland and the network of local enterprise offices have been circulated to all members. To commence the consideration of our matter today, I now invite Mr. Clancy to make his opening remarks on behalf of Enterprise Ireland.

Mr. Clancy is having technical issues, so we will suspend the meeting for five minutes.