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

Our meeting this morning is to hear from, and discuss with, Dr. Geoffrey Shannon, special rapporteur on child protection, his seventh report on child protection, which was published at the end of last November. I welcome Dr. Shannon to the meeting this morning and thank him in advance for his presentation and most sincerely for his work, his advocacy on behalf of children, and for being available to this committee.

I draw the attention of witnesses to the fact that by virtue of section 17(2)(l) of the Defamation Act 2009, witnesses are protected by absolute privilege in respect of their evidence to the committee. However, if they are directed by the committee to cease giving evidence on a particular matter and they continue to so do, they are entitled thereafter only to a 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 they 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, her or it identifiable.

Members are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice 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 invite Dr. Shannon to make his opening remarks.