Damien English (Meath West, Fine Gael)
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I welcome Mr. Mark Fielding, chief executive officer, ISME, and Ms Avine Mcnally, acting director, and Mr. A. J. Noonan, chairman, Small Firms Association, to the committee’s discussion on the impact of the black economy on small businesses.

By virtue of section 17(2)(l) of the Defamation Act 2009, witnesses are protected by absolute privilege in respect of their evidence to this committee. If they are directed by the committee to cease giving evidence on a particular matter and they continue to do so, they are entitled thereafter only to 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 or entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable.

I ask Mr. Fielding and Ms Mcnally to make their opening statements.