Colm Brophy (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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In the first session we will meet stakeholders for a discussion of pre-budget submissions. The select committee is due to finish the part of the meeting by 5.30 p.m. I remind members and delegates to turn off their mobile phones as they cause interference with the sound quality of the transmission of proceedings.

From the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, ICTU, I welcome Ms Patricia King, general secretary; Dr. Ger Gibbons and Dr. Laura Bambrick. From the Dublin Chamber of Commerce I welcome Ms Mary Rose Burke, CEO, and Mr. James Coghlan, council member. From the Dublin Airport Authority I welcome Mr. Vincent Harrison, managing director. From the Irish Small and Medium Enterprises Association, ISME, I welcome Mr. Fergus Sharpe, senior public affairs executive, and Mr. Neil McDonnell, chief executive. I thank all of the delegates for making themselves available to come before the committee.

As there are time constraints and because we have so many delegates, we will try to keep things tight. I will allow each member five or six minutes to ask questions and ask delegates to also keep to this time limit in giving their replies. If we can adhere to these time limits, we will be able to have additional questions in a second round. I will ask each delegate to make an opening statement. We will then open up the discussion for a full question and answer session.

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 to the committee. If, however, 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.

I remind members of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that they should not 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 invite Ms King to make her opening statement.