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

I welcome the delegates and thank them for attending. I apologise to them for the late start and thank them for their patience. We had to discuss a number of issues in private session. I welcome the viewers watching our proceedings on UPC this afternoon.

We are present to consider the general scheme or heads of the aftercare Bill 2014, which places a statutory duty on the Child and Family Agency to prepare an aftercare plan for each eligible child or young person and review, on request, an aftercare plan for an eligible young person, to provide that the Minister may make regulations on the matter and to provide for related matters.

I welcome, from the Department of Children and Youth Affairs, Mr. Albert O'Donoghue, principal officer responsible for alternative care policy, and Michele Clarke, principal officer. I welcome Mr. Fred McBride and Ms Siobhan Mugan from the Child and Family Agency. I welcome also Ms June Tinsley of Barnardos, Ms Jennifer Gargan, director of EPIC, Ms Tanya Ward of the Children's Rights Alliance, and Mr. Mike Allen of Focus Ireland.

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 continue to so do, they are entitled thereafter only to qualified privilege in respect of their evidence. They are directed that evidence connected only with the subject matter of these proceedings is to be given and are asked to respect the parliamentary practice to the effect that, where possible, they should not comment on, criticise or make charges against a person or persons or an entity by name or in such a way as to make him or her 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.

I call on Mr. Albert O'Donoghue to make his opening remarks.