Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the members of Transgender Equality Network Ireland to the meeting to discuss experiences of equality of treatment at the Department of Social Protection. I welcome the following: Mr. Broden Giambrone, director; Ms Victoria Mullin, board member and member of Families Against Forced Divorce; Mr. Darrin Matthews, board member; Dr. Tanya Ní Mhuirthile, board member; and Ms Orla O'Sullivan, communications officer. I also welcome any other guests in the Visitors' Gallery.

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 as way as to make him or her identifiable. By virtue of section 17(2)(l) of the Defamation Act 2009, witnesses are protected by absolute privilege in respect of their evidence to this committee. However, if they are directed by the committee to cease giving evidence on a particular matter and 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. They are asked to respect the parliamentary practice to the effect that where possible they should not criticise or make charges against any person, persons or entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable.