Ciara Conway (Waterford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I would like to remind members to ensure that their mobile telephones are switched off as they cause serious problems for broadcasting, editorial and sound staff.

In the opening session this morning the joint committee will hear from key stakeholders on the issue of child care. The committee identified the need for quality and affordable child care as a priority issue in our work programme. The child care sector faces a number of challenges including significant costs faced by families for child care, conditions and accreditation for training for child care workers and increased regulation and funding issues for the sector. The committee appointed Deputy Sandra McLellan as rapporteur to work with her colleagues in preparing a report on this issue. I would also like to acknowledge Deputy Robert Troy and Senator Jillian van Turnhout's contribution to our discussion of this issue.

I welcome our witnesses to the meeting: Ms Teresa Heeney, chief executive officer of Early Childhood Ireland; Ms Orla O'Connor, director of the National Women's Council of Ireland; Ms Maria Corbett, deputy chief executive of the Children's Rights Alliance; and Ms Ciairín de Buis, director of Start Strong. The committee has asked each witness to focus on a different aspect of the child care debate. Ms Heeney is going to open with a short overview of the national situation to set the scene and identify the current state of play with regard to child care and early education in Ireland. Ms O'Connor will address the costs of child care and the impact on female participation in the workforce. Ms Corbett will mainly focus on the issue of child care and disability, looking at how we need to cater for child care for those with special needs and Ms de Buis will close the session by considering the future of child care in Ireland, what we mean by quality and affordable child care and what measures need to be considered to achieve this.

Before we commence, I wish to remind witnesses of the position on privilege. 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 call on Ms Teresa Heeney to make her opening statement.