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

The joint committee has now resumed in public session for the second part of this meeting. I thank everyone for their attendance and I thank the witnesses for their patience. As the last part of the meeting was extended and the joint committee also had some business in private session at the outset, I apologise for the delay. The joint committee has reconvened for the second part of its two-part meeting today on the issue of suicide as part of the report being compiled by the joint committee's rapporteur, Senator Gilroy, entitled, "Challenging Assumptions: A Powerful Conversation". At this point, I thank Senator Gilroy for his work. He will complete the aforementioned report, which then will be furnished to the joint committee for adoption after which it will be forwarded by the joint committee to the Minister as a committee report. I welcome Mr. Ciaran Austin, director of services, Console; Mr. Dominic Layden, chief executive officer, Aware; Ms Joan Freeman from Pieta House; Dr. Justin Brophy from the Irish Association of Suicidology; and Mr. Gerry Raleigh and Ms Susan Kenny from the National Office for Suicide Prevention. They are all welcome to this meeting and I thank them for their attendance. I also welcome viewers on UPC channel 207.

Before we commence, I remind people their mobile telephones should be in the off position or in aeroplane mode. In a similar manner to the previous part of the meeting, it is important to put this in context by noting we are talking about the lives of people, the families affected by this issue, as well as people's colleagues, friends and communities. I also wish to remind witnesses of the position regarding privilege. Witnesses are protected by absolute privilege in respect of the evidence they are to give to the committee. However, 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 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 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 parliamentary practice or ruling of the Chair to the effect that they should not comment on, criticise or make charges against a person outside the House or an official either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.

Before calling on Mr. Ciaran Austin, I invite the joint committee's rapporteur, Senator Gilroy, to make a few brief opening remarks.