Jerry Buttimer (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome everyone to the meeting. Mobile telephones should be switched off completely because they interfere with the broadcasting equipment, even when in silent mode. The purpose of this meeting is to discuss the establishment of the new child and family support agency, a development which everyone warmly welcomes. The establishment of the agency will bring a dedicated focus to child protection and family support and other key children's services for the first time in the history of the State. The agency will be as broadly based as possible, will provide services which may prevent problems arising for families in the first instance, will identify problems and provide supports at an early stage and will assist children and families in managing serious problems requiring specialist interventions beyond their own resources.

I welcome Professor Pat Dolan, Ms Claire Dineen, Mr. Packie Kelly, Mr. Fergus Finlay, Mr. Sean Campbell and Ms Mary Flaherty to the meeting. Before we commence, I wish to remind our witnesses that they are protected by absolute privilege in respect of their evidence to this committee. If they are directed by the committee to cease giving evidence in respect of a particular matter and they continue to so do, they will be entitled thereafter only to a 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 they are asked to respect the parliamentary practice to the effect that, where possible, they should not criticise nor make charges against any person, persons or entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable. Members are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice, or 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 either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.

During the second part of the meeting we will be joined by Mr. Gordon Jeyes, chief executive designate of the new child and family support agency. I call on Professor Dolan to make his opening remarks.