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

That is okay. I thank the members for attending at 5 p.m. this afternoon. I acknowledge it is an awful time for them.

We are present to address the tackling of childhood poverty. I thank the Vice Chairman, Deputy Ciara Conway, for requesting that we include this very important topic in our work programme, and also for agreeing to act as rapporteur on the topic. Ultimately, she will present a report to the committee for its consideration.

I welcome Mr. Toby Wolfe and Ms Naomi Feely from Start Strong, Ms June Tinsley and Ms Suzanne Connolly from Barnardos and Mr. Stuart Duffin from One Family. I thank them for taking the time to attend and for their very interesting submissions.

Witnesses 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 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.

I invite Mr. Toby Wolfe, acting director of Start Strong, to make his opening statement.