Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome Ms Lorna Gold, head of policy and advocacy with Trócaire, Mr. Sorley McCaughey, head of policy and advocacy with Christian Aid Ireland and Ms Eilis Ryan, co-ordinator of Debt and Development Coalition Ireland.

The purpose of this meeting is to provide a briefing to the joint committee in advance of the financing for development conference in Addis Ababa. The format of today's meeting will be an opening statement to be followed by questions from members. This is an important year with three very important meetings on development coming up, the first in Addis Ababa in July, the meeting in New York in September and the Paris meeting on climate change at the end of the year.

Much of our work and some of our sessions between now and then will focus on that because it is a template for moving forward over the next ten or 15 years.

I remind witnesses, members and people in the Gallery to ensure their mobile phones are switched off completely for the duration of the meeting. If they are in silent mode, they can cause interference with recording equipment being used in the committee room. I remind members of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that they should not comment on, criticise or make charges against a person or body outside the Houses or an official either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable. 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 the Chairman 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. They are asked to respect the parliamentary practice that, where possible, they should not criticise or make charges against any person or entity by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.

The witnesses are all very welcome. I ask Ms Gold to make her presentation. When that is complete, we will get members to ask questions. I ask all three witnesses to feel free to get involved at any stage.