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

Today, the select committee will consider the Employment (Collective Redundancies and Miscellaneous Provisions) and Companies (Amendment) Bill 2023. At the outset, I thank the members and witnesses for participating in today's committee meeting. Members are required to participate in the meeting either from within the meeting room or, if joining remotely, from within the Leinster House complex only. One member is joining the meeting remotely. Should a division occur, any members who are participating remotely will be required to make their way to the committee meeting room within the normal division time in order to vote, before returning to their original location. Apologies have been received from Deputy Matt Shanahan.

The meeting is being convened for the purposes of considering the Employment (Collective Redundancies and Miscellaneous Provisions) and Companies (Amendment) Bill 2023 which was referred to the select committee by order of the Dáil on 18 November 2023. The purpose of the Bill is to further enhance the protection of employees in a collective redundancy in a way that does not unduly impede enterprises in the conduct of business. It amends the Protection of Employment Act 1977, as amended, which governs collective redundancy rules; provides for the establishment of a statutory employment law review group which will allow for an ongoing assessment of employment and redundancy law to ensure it is fit for purpose; and amends the Companies Act 2014, as amended, to further improve the quality and circulation of information to workers as creditors and ensure remedies for transactional avoidance are more accessible to creditors.

I welcome the Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Deputy Neale Richmond, who is accompanied by his officials. No groupings have been applied and all amendments will be discussed individually. I propose we try to complete our Committee Stage consideration of the Bill today. Is that agreed? Agreed. We will now proceed with consideration of the Bill and I invite the Minister of State, Deputy Neale Richmond, to make opening remarks.