Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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I remind members and those in attendance to, please, turn off their mobile phones as they interfere with the broadcasting equipment.

We are considering the current situation in Bus Éireann. I welcome all present. This is the third in a series of meetings since Christmas to discuss the challenging situation at Bus Éireann. We have previously heard from the acting CEO of Bus Éireann, Mr. Ray Hernan. More recently we heard the Government perspective from the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Shane Ross.

Today we have representatives from various unions and employee associations. I wish to welcome Mr. Dermot O'Leary, general secretary, National Bus and Rail Union; Mr. Greg Ennis, Services Industrial Professional and Technical Union; Mr. Willie Quigley, regional officer, Unite the Union; Mr. Sean Heading, regional secretary, Technical Electrical and Engineering Union; and Mr. Patrick McCusker, senior Irish organiser, Transport Salaried Staffs' Association. We have had additions to the list, so apologies for names I might have left out. You are all very welcome, and thank you for coming here. I acknowledge that you are due at the Workplace Relations Commission at 3.30 p.m., and need to leave here at 3.15 p.m. The committee gives you its assurance that you will not be kept any later than that.

By virtue of section 17(2)(l) of the Defamation Act 2009, witnesses are protected by absolute privilege in respect of their evidence to the joint committee. However, if they are directed by it to cease giving evidence on a particular matter and continue to do so, they are entitled thereafter only to qualified privilege in respect of their evidence. They are directed that only evidence connected with the subject matter of these proceedings is to be given and asked to respect the parliamentary practice to the effect that, where possible, they should not criticise or make charges against any person or an entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable.

Members are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that they should not comment on, criticise or make charges against a person outside the Houses or an official, either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.

I now call on Mr. Dermot O'Leary of the NBRU and Mr. Patrick McCusker of the TSSA to make a joint opening statement.