Robert Dowds (Dublin Mid West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I apologise for the fact this meeting is clashing with Question Time with the Minister for Health in the Dáil. It is frustrating as it means some members cannot be here. I welcome the witnesses, including Professor Mary McCarron, the leader of the research team for the intellectual disability supplement to the Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing, TILDA, Ms Máire O'Dwyer, research fellow and pharmacist on the TILDA project, Ms Eilish Burke, project manager for the TILDA project, Dr. Niamh Mulryan, consultant psychiatrist at the Daughters of Charity and Mr. Pat Clarke, CEO of Down Syndrome Ireland. I also welcome the many people in the Visitors Gallery. I remind everybody to ensure mobile phones are switched off because if they are not switched off, it can cause serious problems for broadcasting and for the editorial and sound staff.

The committee invited Professor Mary McCarron to discuss the challenge of ageing and care in our intellectually disabled population. As many members know, Professor McCarron is internationally recognised for her research in the areas of intellectual disability, ageing, chronic illness, dementia and palliative care. She currently leads the research team for the intellectual disability supplement to the Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing, TILDA. This is the most comprehensive study on ageing in persons with intellectual disability ever carried out in Ireland, and the first of its kind internationally. People with intellectual disabilities are now living much longer.

This has significant implications for the policies that support their quality of life, including the policies on community living and living in congregated settings. Professor McCarron will be assisted in her presentation by Ms Máire O'Dwyer and Ms Éilish Burke. I acknowledge also the members of the research team in the Visitors Gallery.

I advise the witnesses 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 Chairman to cease giving evidence on a particular matter and they continue to do so, they are entitled thereafter only to a qualified privilege in respect of their evidence. Witnesses 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 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 either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.

I invite Professor McCarron to make her opening statement.