Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Good morning. I will start with an announcement about the public health arrangements. We will get to the witnesses' statements as quickly as we can. The proceedings of Oireachtas committees will be conducted without the requirement for social distancing with normal capacity in the committee rooms restored. However, the committees are encouraged to take a gradual approach to this change. Members and witnesses have the option to attend meetings in the relevant committee room or online through Microsoft Teams. All those attending in the committee room and environs should continue to sanitise, wash hands properly and often and avail of sanitiser outside and inside committee rooms, be respectful of others' physical space and practise good respiratory etiquette. If they have any Covid-19 symptoms, no matter how mild, they should not attend in the meeting room. Members and all in attendance are asked to exercise personal responsibility in protecting themselves and others from the risk of contracting Covid-19. Members participating in the meeting remotely are required to do so from within the Leinster House complex only. Apologies have been received from Deputy Matt Shanahan and Senators Paul Gavan and Róisín Garvey.

This morning we will have an engagement on European Works Councils and related Irish legislation. European Works Councils are bodies that facilitate information and consultation with European employees on transnational issues. EWCs are subject to the law of the member state in which they are located. They allow workers to be informed and consulted by management on the progress of the business and any significant decisions at European level that could affect their employment or working conditions. The impact of Brexit on EWCs based in the UK and Irish legislation regarding ECWs and related issues are what will be discussed here today.

I am pleased that the committee has the opportunity to considered these matters further with the following representatives. I welcome from the Brussels European Employee Relations Group, Mr. Tom Hayes, executive director; Ms Lisa McKeon, Europe, Middle East and Africa employee relations senior manager with Oracle Corporation; and from SIPTU, Mr. Gerry McCormack, deputy general secretary and Mr. Denis Sheridan, European Works Council expert.

Before we start, I want to explain to our witnesses some of the limitations to parliamentary privilege and the practice of the Houses as regards reference that may be made 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 Constitution and statute by absolute privilege. 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 have already been circulated to members. To commence our consideration of this matter, I now invite Mr. Tom Hayes to make his opening remarks on behalf of the Brussels European Employee Relations Group.