James O'Connor (Cork East, Fianna Fail)

You are all very welcome to our public meeting. Before we proceed I have a few housekeeping matters to go through. I wish to explain some limitations of parliamentary privilege and the practice of the House as regards reference witnesses may make to other persons in their evidence.

Witnesses within the parliamentary precincts are protected by absolute privilege in respect of the presentation they make to the committee. This means they have absolute defence against any defamation action for anything they say at the meeting. However, witnesses are expected not to abuse this privilege and it is my duty as Chair to ensure that this privilege is not abused. 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.

I advise members of the constitutional requirement that members must be physically present within the confines of the Leinster House complex in order to participate in public meetings. I will not permit a member to participate where 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 they are on the grounds of the Leinster House campus.

Members and witnesses are 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 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 the identifiable person or entity, they will be directed to discontinue their remarks. Again, it is imperative that they comply with any such direction.

I propose that the minutes of the following meetings be approved: 8 October 2025; 15 October 2025; and 16 October 2025; and the revised minutes from 16 July 2025 and 24 September 2025. Are the minutes agreed? Agreed.

Today's discussion will be on competitiveness and the cost of doing business in Ireland, and related matters. The committee has decided that our priority policy will be competitiveness and the cost of doing business in Ireland. This is our fifth meeting on this topic and we look forward to hearing from many stakeholders from various sectors of our economy, and many we already have. I propose that we publish the opening statements and submissions provided by the witnesses on the committee's website. Is that agreed? Agreed.

In relation to speaking arrangements, I suggest that we invite our witnesses to speak for approximately five to ten minutes and that we allow members to ask questions or make comments for around seven minutes. We may have a second round of questioning if time permits.

I am delighted to welcome the representatives from the Alliance for Insurance Reform: Mr. Brian Hanley, chief executive officer, and Mr. Vincent Jennings, chairperson. We are also joined by the following witnesses from Retail Excellence Ireland: Ms Jean McCabe, chief executive officer; Mr. Enrico De Luca, director of Maxi Zoo; and Ms Aoife McBride, director of MacBees. You are all very welcome to today's meeting.

I now invite Mr. Hanley to make his opening statement.