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

Deputy Fitzpatrick's mother died so he cannot attend the meeting today. The committee will convey our sympathy to Deputy Fitzpatrick on his sad loss. Deputy Troy has also sent his apologies that he is unable to attend the meeting.
I remind members, witnesses and people in the Visitors Gallery to ensure their mobile telephones are switched off for the duration of the meeting as they interfere with the broadcasting of the proceedings.
This meeting will hear an update on child protection services and the child care law reporting project. Child protection and child care present a range of complex issues and it is important that this committee on health and children focuses on these issues as a matter of public interest. The Child Care Law Reporting Project is an independent project to report on child care proceedings, to provide information on the operation of the Irish child care system and to promote transparency and accountability. Dr. Carol Coulter's interim report was published last week and has been circulated to members of the committee. This meeting is an important opportunity for us to receive an update on the project and to discuss the implementation of child care policy with a number of leading experts in the field. In this regard, I welcome three eminent experts on child protection, Dr. Carol Coulter, director of the Child Care Law Reporting Project, Dr. Helen Buckley, associate professor at the School of Social Work and Social Policy in Trinity College Dublin, and Ms Ceili O'Callaghan, guardian ad litemand independent child protection consultant, and thank them for attending the meeting this evening.

I apologise as I have a meeting to attend at 6.30 p.m. With the committee's permission, I will ask Deputy Regina Doherty to take the Chair as the Vice Chairman is unavailable. Is that agreed? Agreed.

I advise the witnesses that they are protected by absolute privilege in respect of their evidence to this committee. 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. Only evidence connected with the subject matter of these proceedings is to be given and witnesses are asked to respect the parliamentary practice to the effect that, where possible, they should not criticise or make charges against any person, persons or entity by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable. Members are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that members should not comment on, criticise or make charges against a person outside the House or an official by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.

I invite Dr. Carol Coulter to make her opening remarks.