Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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I welcome representatives from the ICSA, Mr. Eddie Punch, general secretary, and Mr. Edmond Phelan, president. I welcome also representatives from the ICMSA who are joining us remotely, Mr. Lorcan McCabe, deputy president, and Mr. John Enright, general secretary. We received witnesses' opening statements which have been circulated to members. As we are limited in time due to the Covid-19 safety restrictions, the committee has agreed that the opening statements will be taken as read so we can use the full session for questions and answers. I propose a limit of four minutes per member, per session for questions and answers.

Before we begin, I wish to give an important notice in relation to parliamentary privilege. Witnesses are protected by absolute privilege in respect of the evidence they give to the committee. However, 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 qualified privilege in respect of their evidence. They are directed that only evidence connected with the subject matter of the proceedings is to be given. They should respect the parliamentary practice to the effect that, where possible, they should not criticise nor make charges against any person, or entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable.

Witnesses participating in the committee meeting from a location outside the parliamentary precincts should note that the constitutional protection afforded to those participating within the parliamentary precincts does not extend to them. No clear guidance can be given as to whether, or the extent to which, this participation is covered by absolute privilege of a statutory nature. I now invite questions from the members.