James O'Connor (Cork East, Fianna Fail)

Good afternoon, I welcome everyone to our eighth public meeting and to our first meeting after the summer recess. Before we proceed, I have a few housekeeping matters to go through. I wish to explain some limitations to parliamentary privilege and the practices of the House as regards references witnesses make to other persons in their evidence. Witnesses are protected by absolute privilege in respect of the presentation they make to the committee. This means that they have absolute defence against any defamation action for anything they say at the meeting. However, they are expected not to abuse this privilege and it is my duty as Chair to ensure that it is not abused. Therefore, if witnesses' 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. One of today's witnesses is giving evidence remotely from a place outside of the parliamentary precincts. As such, that person may not benefit from the same level of immunity from legal proceedings as a witness who is physically present does. The witness in question may consider it appropriate to take legal advice on this matter should an issue occur.

I remind members of the constitutional requirement that they must be physically present within the confines of the Leinster House complex in order to participate in public meetings. I will not permit members to participate if they are not adhering to this constitutional requirement. Therefore, a member who attempts to participate from outside the precincts will be asked to leave the meeting. In this regard, I ask any member partaking via Microsoft Teams, that prior to making their contribution to the meeting, they confirm that they are on the grounds of the Leinster House complex.

Members and witnesses are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect 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 a statement is potentially defamatory in relation to an identifiable person or entity, they will be directed to discontinue their remarks. It is imperative that any such direction is complied with. I propose that we publish the opening statements and submissions provided by the witnesses on the committee's website. Is that agreed? Agreed.

We will now invite our witnesses to speak for approximately five to ten minutes. Members will then be allowed to ask questions for up to seven minutes. Members may be called as they appear on the speaking rota. Members may be in a position to speak more than once if they wish to do so. Is that agreed? Agreed.

The item for discussion today is competitiveness and the cost of doing business in Ireland and related matters. The committee has decided that this will be policy priority. This is our second meeting on this topic and we look forward to hearing from many stakeholders from various sectors of our economy. I am delighted to welcome Mr. Ger Gibbons, social policy and legislative officer; and Dr. Tom Mc Donnell, codirector, Irish Congress of Trade Unions, ICTU; and Mr. Ciarán Nugent, economist from the Nevin Economic Research Institute. I invite them to make their opening statements.