Patrick Costello (Dublin South Central, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

Apologies have been received from Deputies Brady and Murnane O’Connor and Senator Ruane. Deputy Tully will substitute for Deputy Brady. The agenda item for consideration is engagement on issues facing the early childhood sector.

Joining us are officials from the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth: Dr. Anne-Marie Brooks, assistant secretary; Mr. Toby Wolfe, principal officer; Mr. Mark Considine, principal officer; Mr. Mark Doheny, principal officer; and Ms Oonagh Fleming, acting principal officer. They are all very welcome to the meeting.

Before we begin, I have a few housekeeping matters. I advise members that the chat function of MS Teams should only be used to make the team on-site aware of technical issues and should not be used to make general comments or statements.

I remind members of the constitutional requirement that they must be physically present within the confines of the Leinster House complex to participate in public meetings. I will not permit a member to participate where he or she is not adhering to this constitutional requirement. Therefore, any member who is participating from outside the precincts will be asked to leave the meeting. In this regard, I ask any member partaking via Teams to confirm whether he or she is on the grounds of the Leinster House campus before making a contribution.

The opening statements will be followed by questions and answers from the members. In advance of inviting the witnesses to deliver their opening statements, I wish to advise them of the following important point in respect of parliamentary privilege: witnesses and members 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 their statements are potentially defamatory in respect of an identifiable person or entity, they will be directed to discontinue their remarks. It is imperative that they comply with any such direction.

I invite Dr. Brooks to make her opening statement.