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

I welcome everybody today. I advise people that we still have a health emergency. Our Oireachtas committee will be conducted without the need for social distancing at the moment. Normal capacity is back in the committee rooms and this is the biggest crowd I have seen during this Dáil. I am absolutely delighted to see so many people here today.

Witnesses and members have the option to come into the room or join remotely on Microsoft Teams. I advise everyone who is in the meeting room to practise social distancing and the regular protocol of washing their hands their hands when they come in and out. We have no apologies for today, which is good.

I will start straight into our engagement with Mr. Nicolas Schmit, European Commissioner for Jobs and Social Rights. It gives me great pleasure to welcome Mr. Schmit this morning. Prior to his appointment as EU Commissioner in 2019, Mr. Schmit was Minister of Labour, Employment and Social and Solidarity Economy in Luxembourg from 2013. Prior to that, he served as Minister of Labour, Employment and Immigration from 2009. As issues relating to jobs and social rights in Ireland are, of course, greatly influenced by policy and legislation at EU level, it is particularly important that both the Commissioner and the committee are acquainted with each other's perspectives and concerns.

To commence our discussion today, I now invite Commissioner Schmit to make some opening remarks on issues of mutual interest. They may well include issues relating to teleworking and the right to disconnect, labour shortages, occupational safety and health and the European Commission's approach to platform work. The floor is his.