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

The only item for discussion today is the appearance by the Ombudsman for Children, Ms Emily Logan, before us. Correspondence and the work programme will be discussed at tomorrow's meeting and the autumn work schedule at the meeting on Thursday, 25 July. The quarterly meeting with the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs will be tomorrow, Thursday, 18 July at 9.30 a.m. and the quarterly meeting with the Minister for Health will be on Thursday, 25 July at 9.30 a.m. We are hoping to get the meeting of 23 July dealing with the appointment to the board of the child and family agency to an earlier time of 2.30 p.m. if that suits members rather than 5.30 p.m.

I welcome the Ombudsman for Children, Ms Logan, and Dr. Niall Muldoon and I apologise for the postponement of last Thursday's meeting. Our meeting has been convened following a request by Ms Logan to appear before us to discuss her concerns around children of the age of 18 detained in St. Patrick's Institution and the issues associated with the transfer of these children to the facility in Oberstown and her concerns, among others, about the management and staffing of the Oberstown facility. Since this request, the Minister for Justice and Equality and the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs have made announcements on the issue and we will discuss that as part of our deliberations.

While 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 comments or charges against a person by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable. Members are reminded of the long-standing ruling of the Chair to the effect that members 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.