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

I remind members and those in the Visitors Gallery that mobile phones should be switched off for the duration of the meeting as they interfere with the broadcasting of proceedings.

I welcome the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Deputy James Reilly. I also welcome the Secretary General at the Department of Children and Youth Affairs, Dr. Fergal Lynch, as well as Ms Bernie McNally, Mr. Dermot Ryan, Ms Michele Clarke and Mr. Alan Savage. This is our regular quarterly meeting with the Minister on issues concerning the Department of Children and Youth Affairs. In advance of the meeting members submitted written questions, to which the responses have been circulated. On behalf of the joint committee, I thank those who facilitated our recent visit to the National Children Detention Facility at Oberstown, Lusk, County Dublin. The committee will have an informal follow-up meeting with members of staff there.

By virtue of section 17(2)(l) of the Defamation Act 2009, witnesses are protected by absolute privilege in respect of the evidence they are to give to the committee. If they are directed by it to cease giving evidence on a particular matter and 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 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. 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 by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.