Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour) | Oireachtas source

Members have the option of being physically present in the committee room or joining the meeting via MS Teams from their Leinster House offices but they may not participate from outside the parliamentary precincts. I ask members joining on MS Teams to mute their microphones when not making a contribution and to use the raise hand function to indicate. All those present in the committee room are asked to exercise personal responsibility in respect of protection against the risk of contracting Covid-19.

Today, we are considering the recommendations of the Citizens' Assembly on Gender Equality regarding pay and workplace conditions, specifically, recommendations No. 32 to 36 of the assembly report. We are delighted to welcome representatives from three organisations: WorkEqual; IBEC; and SIPTU. I would like to welcome the following witnesses joining us in the committee room: Ms Angela Smith, CEO and Ms Sonya Lennon, founder WorkEqual; and Ms Ethel Buckley, deputy general secretary and Mr. Michael Taft, senior researcher SIPTU, who will join us shortly. Joining via MS Teams are Dr. Kara McGann, head of social policy and Ms Pauline O'Hare, senior employment law manager, IBEC.

Before we begin, I must read an important notice regarding parliamentary privilege. Witnesses are protected by absolute privilege in respect of the evidence they give to the committee. However, if they are directed by the committee to cease giving evidence on a particular matter and they continue to do so, they are entitled thereafter only to qualified privilege in respect of their evidence. They are directed that only evidence connected with the subject matter of these proceedings is to be given and asked to respect the parliamentary practice to the effect that, where possible, they should not criticise or make charges against any person or entity in such a way as to make them identifiable. Participants who are giving evidence from a location outside parliamentary precincts are asked to note that the constitutional protections afforded to those participating from with parliamentary precincts does not extend to them and no clear guidance can be given on whether, or the extent to which, the participation is covered by absolute privilege of a statutory nature.

I will invite witnesses to make their opening statements before opening the floor to members for questions and answers. Our focus throughout our hearings has been the practical implementation of the recommendations of the citizens' assembly. We have asked witnesses to focus on how to implement these important recommendations. We are grateful to them all for their submissions, opening statements and engagement with us. We also have time limits on participation to ensure the maximum number of Oireachtas colleagues can engage in questioning. There will be a six-minute time limit on each exchange. We may then be able to go to a second round of questions and discussion. We ask witnesses to keep opening statements relatively short - five minutes or so, if they can. I thank them all again for coming before us today. I will call WorkEqual first, followed by IBEC and then SIPTU. I call Ms Smith and Ms Lennon to make their opening statements. It is a pleasure to have you here.