Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I welcome our guests to the committee.

I 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 their evidence to this committee. If they are directed by the committee to cease giving evidence on a particular matter and they continue to so do, they are 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. They are asked to respect the parliamentary practice to the effect that, where possible, they should not criticise or make charges against any person or persons or entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable. I also advise the witnesses that the opening statements that they have submitted to the committee will be published on the committee website after this meeting. Members are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that they should not comment on, criticise or make charges against a person outside the Houses or any official by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.

We will first hear presentations on the forthcoming budget, followed by a separate presentation on equality budgeting. The Society of St. Vincent de Paul is represented by Audrey Dean, Caroline Fahey and John Mark McCafferty, and the Union of Students in Ireland is represented by Joe O'Connor, president, and Laura Harmon, vice president for equality and citizenship. I invite Mr. McCafferty to make the presentation on behalf of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul.