Denis O'Donovan (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

As a matter of course I reiterate the reminder on privilege to some of the new groups. I wish to draw the attention of witnesses to the issue of privilege. Witnesses are protected by absolute privilege in respect of their evidence to the committee. However, if they are directed by it to cease giving evidence on a particular matter and continue to do so, 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 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.

The first group in this tranche of our hearings is Amnesty International. Following the presentation of Amnesty International we will hear from the Children's Rights Alliance, Educate Together and Rehab. All speakers will have ten minutes to outline their case. We have already received the written submissions of the groups so there is an opportunity to synopsise and to highlight certain aspects of the submissions. A question and answer session will follow. I invite the speaker for Amnesty International to proceed. She has ten minutes. The time can be shared or one person can use it all.