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

This session is a meeting with representatives from Tusla, including Mr. Gordon Jeyes, chief executive officer Mr. Fred McBride, chief operations officer, and Mr. Brian Lee, director of quality assurance, who I thank for attending at such short notice. The purpose of this meeting is to receive an update from Mr. Jeyes on a very serious matter raised last week at the Select Sub-committee on Children and Youth Affairs on child protection services in the Laois-Offaly area.

I wish to draw the attention of witnesses to the fact that by virtue of section 17(2)(l) of the Defamation Act 2009, they are protected by absolute privilege in respect of their evidence to this committee. However, if they are directed by the committee to cease giving evidence relating to a particular matter and they continue to do so, 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 the proceedings is to be given and they are asked to respect the parliamentary practice to the effect that where possible they should not criticise nor 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 Houses or an official, either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.

I ask Mr. Jeyes to make his opening comments.