John Lyons (Dublin North West, Labour)
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The next item is a discussion with members of the National Federation of Retail Newsagents on proposed solutions to protect small businesses and the jobs they provide and Grant Thornton on the recently published report, Illicit Trade in Ireland. I welcome Ms Deirdre Drennan, Mr. Joe Sweeney and Mr. John Prendergast of the National Federation of Retail Newsagents to the meeting today to discuss proposed solutions. I also welcome Mr. Colin Fearon of Grant Thornton.

I must read out some official instructions so the witnesses should bear with me. By virtue of section 17(2)(l) of the Defamation Act 2009, witnesses are protected by absolute privilege in respect of the evidence they are to give this committee. If you are directed by the committee to cease giving evidence on a particular matter and you continue to so do, you are entitled thereafter only to a qualified privilege in respect of your evidence. You are directed that only evidence connected with the subject matter of these proceedings is to be given and you are asked to respect the parliamentary practice to the effect that, where possible, you should not criticise or make charges against any persons or entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable. Members are reminded of a long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that Members should not comment on, criticise or make charges against a person outside the Houses, or any official by name in such a way as to make him or her identifiable. After that scary message and if she feels comfortable making a presentation, I ask Ms Drennan to commence the submission on behalf of the National Federation of Retail Newsagents. I ask that the presentations be no longer than ten minutes as it will give more time for engagement with members.