David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The purpose of this meeting is to have an engagement on the provision of the Charities Act 2009 and the exclusion of the advancement of human rights from the list of charitable purposes. I am pleased to welcome Dr. Oonagh Breen here today. She is a senior lecturer in law at UCD. I also welcome Mr. Ivan Cooper, who is director of advocacy at The Wheel. We know the witnesses' time is valuable and we really appreciate their giving it to help us in considering these issues. I understand briefing documents on this matter have been circulated to members. I will invite the witnesses to make an opening statement of approximately five minutes on the key points. We will then have a question and answer session with members.

Before we begin, I have to draw the attention of our witnesses to the situation in respect of privilege. By virtue of section 17(2)(l) of the Defamation Act 2009, they are protected by absolute privilege in respect of the evidence they are to give to the committee. However, if they are directed by the committee to cease giving evidence in relation 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 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 nor make charges against any person, persons or entity by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable. Members should also be aware that under the same rulings of the Chair, members should not comment on, criticise or make charges against a person outside the House or an official by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.

Will those present please check to ensure their mobile telephones are switched off or are in airplane mode so that they do not interfere with the sound recording system? I now invite Dr. Breen to make her opening statement.