Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
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Today we will hear from a number of groups on a bill of rights for Northern Ireland. We will meet first with representatives of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, ICTU. I welcome Mr. Eugene McGlone, president of the congress, Ms Patricia McKeown, past president and member of the executive council of the congress, and Mr. Jack O'Connor, general president of SIPTU and member of the executive council of ICTU.

Before I invite the witnesses to make their presentation, I advise them that they are protected by absolute privilege in respect of utterances at this committee. However, if they are directed by the committee to cease to make remarks on a particular matter but continue to do so, they are entitled thereafter to only a qualified privilege in respect of their remarks. They are directed that only comments and evidence related directly to the subject matter of this meeting are to be given and they are asked to respect the parliamentary practice to the effect that, where possible, they should not criticise or make charges against a Member of either House of the Oireachtas, a person outside the Houses or an official by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.

I call on Mr. Eugene McGlone to proceed with his opening statement. We will have contributions from the three witnesses and then open the meeting to members for questions.