David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

On behalf of the committee I welcome the following: Sr. Mary Ryan and Sr. Síle McGowan of Act to Prevent Trafficking; Ms Maeve Lewis, executive director, and Ms Julie Browne, advocacy officer, One in Four; Ms Fiona Finn, chief executive and Ms Jennifer DeWan, campaign and communications officer, Nasc, the Irish Immigrant Support Centre; and Ms Claire Mahon, president, Mr. Liam Doran, general secretary, and Ms Clare Treacy, director of social policy, Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation. I apologise for any inconvenience caused by the delay in bringing the witnesses before the joint committee. We have used this process to address other issues. In this case, the issue under discussion has been of such interest to members that proceedings have taken longer than expected. I thank the various groups for their patience and the submissions they supplied. The format is that each group will make a brief opening statement, followed by a question and answer session.

Before we commence, I draw witnesses' attention to the position as regards privilege. By virtue of 17(2)(l) of the Defamation Act 2009, witnesses are protected by absolute privilege in respect of their evidence to the committee. If they are directed by the committee to cease giving evidence on a particular matter and they continue to do so, they are entitled thereafter only to a 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 and they are asked to respect the parliamentary practice to the effect that, where possible, they should not criticise or make charges against a Member of either House, a person outside the House or an official by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable. I remind members of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that members should not comment on, criticise or make charges against a person outside the House or an official by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable. I ask everyone present to switch off mobile telephones as they interfere with the recording systems of the House.

I ask the spokespersons of the groups to confine their opening remarks to five minutes. I invite Act to Prevent Trafficking to make an opening statement.