Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 6 February 2019

Joint Oireachtas Committee on European Union Affairs

European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions: Engagement with Mr. Juan Menéndez-Valdés

Photo of Michael Healy-RaeMichael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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We have received apologies from Deputy Cullinane and Senator Craughwell. I remind members to ensure their mobile phones are switched off. It is important because it causes serious problems for the broadcasting and editorial staff.

Today the committee will engage with Mr. Juan Menéndez-Valdés, director of the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions, on the work of the foundation. I am delighted to welcome Mr. Menéndez-Valdés and his officials to the Joint Committee on European Union Affairs. The foundation is the only EU-based agency in Ireland and has been doing essential work for many years in helping us to understand the trends in industries, working conditions, labour markets and what life is like for Europeans and all those living in Europe. This information can be essential for policy-makers like us in order to understand the structures that exist and help us to tailor any changes to improve the lives of our citizens. I met the director six months ago and had a very interesting engagement. I am looking forward to this engagement today. The foundation has been very good in sending the committee copies of its reports and other publications, which I am sure all members found very informative and helpful. We find the reports of great use to us in doing our work. I again welcome Mr. Menéndez-Valdés and his officials. We are delighted to have them at the committee and the members and I look forward to hearing about the work of the foundation.

Before we begin, I remind members of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that they should not comment on, criticise or make charges against a person or an official either by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable. 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 about to give to the committee. If they are directed to cease giving evidence on a particular subject and they continue to do so, they are only entitled thereafter to qualified privilege in respect of the evidence they give. They are directed that only evidence concerned with today's proceedings is to be given to the committee and they are asked to respect the parliamentary practice to the effect that, where possible, they should not criticise or make charges against an entity or a person either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.

I invite Mr. Menéndez-Valdés to make his presentation. Members will ask questions and make comments afterwards.