David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Apologies have been received from Senator Tony Mulcahy.

The purpose of the meeting is to have a discussion on a number of submissions received on the heads of the children and family relationships Bill. On behalf of the joint committee, I am very pleased to welcome Dr. Mary Wingfield and Dr. Edgar Mocanu from the Institute of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists; Mr. Brian Tobin from NUI Galway; Dr. Geoffrey Shannon and Ms Carol Anne Coolican from the Law Society of Ireland; and Ms Karen Kiernan and Mr. Stuart Duffin from One Family. We will have one session this morning and a longer one in the afternoon. The format of the meeting is that delegates will be invited to make an opening statement of five minutes duration. I ask them to try to stick to the five minute limit. The challenge is to distil contributions down to the main points as much as possible. The opening statements will be followed by a question and answer session with members. We are also joined by Ms Carol Baxter and Ms Dara Breathnach from the Department of Justice and Equality.

I thank them for giving of their time.
I ask members, delegates and those in the Visitors Gallery to ensure their mobile phones are switched off as they interfere with the sound system or to switch them to flight mode. It is not sufficient to leave them in silent mode, as this will maintain the level of interference and impact negatively on the broadcast. If in the course of the proceedings there is interference, I will ask everybody to turn off his or her mobile phone completely. Part of the proceedings will be broadcast on UPC channel 207.
Witnesses are protected by absolute privilege in respect of the evidence they are to give to the committee. However, if directed by it 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 only evidence connected with the subject matter of these proceedings is to be given and 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 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 Houses or an official by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.
I invite Dr. Wingfield to make her opening statement.