Maria Bailey (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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This is our second session today with stakeholders to discuss the pre-budget priorities. I apologise for delaying the witnesses for almost 40 minutes, but they heard the conversation at the previous session.

I remind members and witnesses to turn off their mobile phones as the interference affects the sound quality and transmission of the meeting.

From Social Justice Ireland I welcome Dr. Seán Healy, director, and Mr. Eamon Murphy, economic and social analyst. From TASC I welcome Dr. Shana Cohen, director, Mr. Robert Sweeney, policy analyst researcher on inequality, and Ms Sinéad Pembroke, researcher. I thank them for making themselves available and for being so patient.

I remind the committee of the format of the meeting, namely, that I will ask each stakeholder to begin with an opening statement. Witnesses are asked to limit contributions to five minutes, and we will then open the meeting for questions and answers.

Before, I call the witnesses to make their opening statements, I wish to draw their attention to the procedure on privilege. I wish to advise that 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. However, if they are directed by it to cease giving evidence on a particular matter and they continue to do so, they are entitled thereafter only to qualified privilege in respect of their evidence. Witnesses 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 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 Houses or an official, either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.

I invite Dr. Seán Healy to make his opening statement.