Mary Mitchell O'Connor (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I remind those present to ensure that their mobile phones are switched off as they cause serious problems for broadcasting, editorial and sound staff. Our second session this morning is a landmark session as it is an opportunity for committee members to engage with representatives of the deafblind community in Ireland who are making the case for the recognition of deafblindness as a distinct disability.

I welcome the guests in the Visitors Gallery. They are accompanied by a signer so the proceedings will be accessible to them. The broadcast of this meeting will also be signed. It will be the first public broadcast from the Oireachtas that is accessible to the deafblind community. I welcome all the guests this morning, particularly Mr. Liam O'Halloran, Dr. Derek Lacey, who is sitting behind the witnesses, and Dr. Paul Kenna, an expert on research into Usher syndrome and retinitis pigmentosa. Apologies have been received from Dr. David Keegan, who could not join us this morning because he is involved in surgery.

I welcome Ms Laura English, the service development officer with the Anne Sullivan Centre for Deafblind, Dr. Sandra Cummings from the Irish Society of Hearing Aid Audiologists, Ms Carol Brill, an advocate on behalf of the deafblindness community, and Orla Pearson, who is helping to ensure Ms Brill's technology is working for her. I ask the witnesses to make their case. I will allow a little leeway with time. I ask the members to speak very distinctly so they can be heard.

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 committee to cease giving evidence on a particular matter and they continue to so do, 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 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 and ruling of the Chair 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 English to make her opening statement.