Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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The meeting is now in public session. I welcome the officials from the Department of Social Protection to discuss two aspects of their policy goal for minimising unemployment. They will discuss with us measures to integrate those with disabilities into the workforce and the entitlements for the self-employed. When the officials have concluded on both topics and the questions and answers session is concluded I will invite the representatives of Self-Employed Alliance Dundalk to make a separate presentation on the issues of concern to them. I will invite the representatives of the alliance to sit in the Gallery to hear the contributions of the Department officials.

I welcome Ms Teresa Leonard, assistant secretary with responsibility for illness and disability policy, Mr. Liam Walsh, principal officer, Mr. Eoin O'Shea, assistant principal officer, Ms Mary Kennedy, principal officer, and Ms Aideen Mooney, assistant principal for PRSI policy.

Members are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that members should not comment on, criticise or make charges against a person outside the Houses or an official by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable. By virtue of the Defamation Act 2008, witnesses are protected by absolute privilege in respect of their evidence to this committee. However, if witnesses are directed by the committee to cease giving evidence in relation to a particular matter and they continue to do so, they are entitled thereafter only to a qualified privilege in respect of their evidence. Witnesses are directed that only evidence connected with the subject matter of these proceedings is to be given and are asked to respect the parliamentary practice to the effect that, where possible, they should not criticise or make charges against any person, persons or entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her, them or it identifiable.

I invite the officials in the Department to make their presentation.