John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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From the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection I welcome Mr. John McKeon, Secretary General, who is accompanied by Mr. Chris Kane and Mr. Jim Lynch. From Turas Nua we have Mr. Colin Donnery and Ms Mary Moss, whom I welcome. From Seetec I welcome Ms Alison Bunney and Mr. Karl Milne. I thank everyone for attending. I will invite each delegation to make an opening statement. Members will then be invited to address their questions to the delegates.

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 so do, 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.

If colleagues and delegates have mobile phones, they should turn them off or switch them to flight mode. It is not just that they interrupt the meeting, but they also interrupt the broadcast and recording of proceedings.

I invite Mr. McKeon to make the Department's opening statement.