Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I welcome Ms Karen McHugh of Doras Luimní, an organisation based in Limerick which works to support and promote the rights of immigrants, and Mr. Greg Straton of SPIRASI, a non-governmental organisation working with asylum seekers, refugees and disadvantaged migrant groups. I thank both delegates for their submissions which have been circulated to members and for agreeing to make a joint presentation. The transcript of these hearings will be submitted to the Minister of State, Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin, for the attention of the independent working group. Everything the delegates tell us will fit into that work, as well as assisting us in our own deliberations.
By virtue of section 17 (2)(l) of the Defamation Act 2009, witnesses are protected by absolute privilege in respect of the evidence they give to the committee. 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 further advised 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 any person or an entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable. All of this sounds formidable, but it is just a legal statement which I am obliged to deliver to all delegates giving evidence before the committee.
I invite Ms McHugh to make her presentation.