Maurice Quinlivan (Limerick City, Sinn Fein)
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Members participating remotely are reminded they must do so from within the Leinster House complex. No apologies have been received.

Our engagement today is with the new chairperson of the Health and Safety Authority, HSA. The HSA is an important regulatory body that comes under the remit of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment.

The authority carries out important roles in relation to the regulation of occupational safety and health, chemicals, market surveillance and accreditation. I welcome the chairperson of the Health and Safety Authority, Ms Patricia Byron, to the committee. She is joined by board secretary Dr. Marie Dalton.

Before we start, as I always do, I will explain some limitations to parliamentary privilege and the practice of the Houses as regards references witnesses may make to another person in their evidence. The evidence of witnesses physically present or who give evidence from within the parliamentary precincts is protected pursuant to both the Constitution and statute by absolute privilege. Witnesses are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice that 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 or otherwise engage in speech that might be regarded as damaging to the good name of the person or entity. Therefore, if witnesses' statements are potentially defamatory in relation to an identifiable person or entity, they will be directed by me to discontinue their remarks. It is imperative that they comply with any such direction.

The opening statements have been circulated to members. To commence our consideration of this matter, I invite Ms Byron to make her opening remarks.