Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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I remind members, visitors and those in the Visitors Gallery to ensure their mobile phones are switched off completely or left in flight mode for the duration of the meeting as they interfere with the recording and broadcasting equipment, even when left in silent mode.

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 committee. If they are directed by the committee to cease giving evidence on a particular matter and they continue to so do, they are entitled thereafter only to a 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 they 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 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 House or an official either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.

I welcome our guests, Mr. Tom Parlon, director general of the Construction Industry Federation; Ms Jeanette Mair, policy executive; Mr. Martin Stapleton, chairman of the IFA national farm business committee; Mr. Damian McDonald, director general of the IFA; Mr. Adrian Cummins, chief executive of the Restaurants Association of Ireland; and Mr. Liam Edwards, president of the Restaurants Association of Ireland. They are all very welcome and I thank them for taking the time to come to the meeting to discuss the cost of doing business. This is the committee's fourth meeting on the topic and we plan to hold one more meeting in the new year.

I remind our guests their presentations should be no more than five minutes. Members have received the presentations. I ask Mr. Parlon to make his presentation to the committee.