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

The purpose of today's meeting is to have discussions with those who made recent submissions on penal reform, including information on international best practice. I thank those attending today for giving of their valuable time and expertise, which is very much appreciated, and for the submissions they supplied to the committee. I will invite each organisation to make brief opening remarks followed by a question and answer session with members. This is a sub-committee of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality and it has five members.

I welcome, from the Cornmarket Project in Wexford, Mr. Paul Delaney and Mr. Paul O'Brien; from Focus Ireland, Ms Joyce Loughnan, chief executive, and Ms Catherine Maher, national director of services; and from Care after Prison, Ms Bernie Grogan, liaison officer. Members have received submissions and any opening statements received have also been circulated. We will begin with the Cornmarket Project, after which we will hear from Focus Ireland and then from Care after Prison.

I wish to advise the witnesses that by virtue of section 17(2)(l) of the Defamation Act 2009, witnesses are protected by absolute privilege in respect of the evidence they are to give to this sub-committee. If they are directed by it to cease giving evidence on a particular matter and continue to so do, they are entitled thereafter to only qualified privilege in respect of their evidence. They are directed that only evidence connected with the subject matter of these proceedings is to be given and asked to respect the parliamentary practice to the effect that, where possible, they should not criticise or make charges against a person or persons or an entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable. Members are reminded of the long-standing ruling of the Chair to the effect that they should not comment on, criticise or make charges against a person outside the Houses or an official by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable. I invite Mr. Paul Delaney to begin.