Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The main item on our agenda today is the pre-legislative scrutiny of the general scheme of the defence (amendment) Bill 2023. We are pleased to have the opportunity to meet representatives from the Representative Association of Commissioned Officers, RACO, the Permanent Defence Forces Representative Association, PDFORRA, the European Organisation of Military Associations and Trade Unions, EUROMIL, and the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, ICTU, for our pre-legislative scrutiny of this important legislation. It is no secret that, as far as our committee is concerned, this is the most important legislation we will consider this year. Therefore, it is the most important legislation we will consider between now and the end of this parliamentary session. It is the intention of the Government to complete this legislation before the end of its term. We have a statutory duty to engage in pre-legislative scrutiny and we are keen to have an open session this afternoon. We have met all the various groups in the past, but today is different as our discussion will be about the legislation. The committee is charged with the responsibility of preparing a report for the Government and we hope in that report to include the representations the witnesses have already made to us and those they will make to us over the course of this afternoon.

I welcome from RACO, Lieutenant Colonel Conor King, general secretary, and Colonel Derek Priestley, deputy general secretary; from PDFORRA, Mr. Gerard Guinan, general secretary, and Mr. Mark Keane, president; from EUROMIL, Mr. Emmanuel Jacob, president; and from ICTU, Mr. Liam Berney and Dr. Laura Bambrick.

The meeting will be in the usual format. We will hear opening statements from Mr. Berney, Mr. King, Mr. Guinan and Mr. Jacob, in that order, after which we will have a question-and-answer session with members. I ask speakers to be concise in their questions to allow all members the opportunity to participate.

I will read a technical note on privilege. I remind witnesses and members 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 them in any way identifiable or otherwise engage in speech that might be regarded as damaging to the good name of the person or entity. Therefore, if any statements are potentially defamatory in relation to an identifiable person or entity, witnesses will be directed to discontinue their remarks. It is imperative that any such direction be complied with. In the circumstances, I do not expect this will be necessary.

I remind members that they are only allowed to participate in this meeting if they are physically located in the Leinster House complex. I remind witnesses that since Covid we are still operating a hybrid system to the extent that members may participate in the committee room or from their offices in Leinster House. I do not see any members online but that may change later. I will indicate to the witnesses should it be the case that a member wishes to make a contribution or ask a question from the confines of his or her office.

I invite Mr. Berney to make his opening statement.