Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Today, we are meeting representatives of the Restaurants Association of Ireland, RAI, the Irish Hotel Federation and Fáilte Ireland to discuss skills shortages and working conditions in the tourism and hospitality sector. I extend a very big fáilte to all our guests.

On behalf of the committee, I warmly welcome Mr. Mark McGowan, president, and Mr. Adrian Cummins, chief executive officer, RAI. They are joined by their colleague, Ms Amy Sweetman, public affairs manager, who is attending the meeting via Microsoft Teams. I welcome Mr. Tim Fenn, chief executive, and Ms Denyse Campbell, president, Irish Hotels Federation, who are in the committee room, as well as their colleague, Mr. Eoin Quinn, director of member services, who joins us remotely via Microsoft Teams. Finally, I welcome from Fáilte Ireland Mr. Paul Kelly, chief executive, and Ms Jenny De Saulles, director of sector development. They are joined by their colleague, Mr. Caeman Wall, head of economics and industry analysis, who joins us remotely via Microsoft Teams.

The format of the meeting is that I will invite all witnesses to deliver their opening statements, which have been limited to five minutes, and this will be followed by questions from the members. As witnesses are probably aware, the committee may publish the opening statements on our web page following today's meeting.

To limit the risk of spreading Covid-19, the Houses of the Oireachtas Service encourages all members, witnesses and visitors to continue to wear a face mask when moving around the campus and when they are in close proximity to one another, to be respectful of others' physical space and to adhere to any other public health advice.

Before inviting the witnesses to make to deliver their opening statements, I wish to explain a number of limitations in regard to parliamentary privilege and the practice of the Oireachtas in regard to references witnesses may make to other persons in their 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, as a number of today's witnesses are giving evidence remotely from a place outside the parliamentary precincts, and as such they may not benefit from the same level of immunity. Such witnesses may think it appropriate to take legal advice on this matter.

Witnesses are 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 to engage in speech that may be regarded as damaging to the good name of that person or entity. Therefore, if their statements are potentially defamatory in relation to any identifiable person or entity, they may be directed to discontinue their remarks.

Members are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect they should not comment on, criticise or make charges against a person outside the Houses or an official either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable. I remind members of the constitutional requirement that they must be physically present in the confines of Leinster House to participate in public meetings. I cannot permit members to attend where they are not adhering to this constitutional requirement. I also ask members when contributing via Microsoft Teams to identify themselves when contributing for the benefit of the Debates Office staff preparing the Official Report. Members should mute their microphones when they are not contributing to reduce background noise and feedback. Finally, I ask everybody to put their phones on silent or, better again, switch them off.

I propose that witnesses make the opening statements in the following order: the Restaurants Association of Ireland to go first, followed by the Irish Hotels Federation and, finally, Fáilte Ireland.

Without further ado, I call Mr. Adrian Cummins to give his opening statement.