Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

At this meeting we will deal with the issue of family income supplement. In July there will be the transition of a large number of people in receipt of the one-parent family payment to family income supplement. This is one of the issues we told the Department we would be raising today. There are a number of issues to do with family income supplement and, while we will look at the matter in its broader sense, we will also focus on these issues. This is important in the context of the forthcoming changes to the one-parent family payment. I am, therefore, pleased to welcome Mr. Niall Egan, Ms Catherine Kellaghan and Mr. Michael Cunningham from the Department of Social Protection.

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 joint committee. However, if they are directed by it to cease giving evidence on a particular matter and continue to do so, they are entitled thereafter only to 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 asked to respect the parliamentary practice to the effect that, where possible, they should not criticise or make charges against any person or an entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable. The opening statement submitted to the committee will be published on its website after the meeting.

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.

At the request of the broadcasting and recording services, I ask everyone to turn off his or her mobile phones completely or switch them to airplane, safe or flight mode, depending on the device used, as they interfere with the broadcasting equipment.

I invite Mr. Egan to make his opening statement on behalf of the Department.