Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 4 November 2015

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality

Community Alert Programme: Muintir na Tíre

9:30 am

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

The purpose of this part of the meeting is to have an engagement with Muintir na Tíre on the community alert system and benefits thereof during the past 30 years. We are joined today by Mr. Niall Garvey, CEO of Muintir na Tíre. I thank him for being here. I also welcome Mr. Diarmuid Cronin, who is a community alert development officer.

The reason for this meeting is that it is 30 years since community alert was established in Carrigtwohill in east Cork. There was a commemoration recently there which I was privileged to attend. The invitation to the witnesses is a result of those 30 years of work, to take stock and to engage with Members of the Oireachtas to see what is needed now and how the Houses can help and learn from the experience of Muintir na Tíre and the work that is taking place. In some ways, the current situation mirrors what happened 30 years ago and there are things going on in the modern context that need to be dealt with in the same way as they were back then.

Before we begin, I draw the attention of our witnesses to the situation in respect of privilege. Please note that by virtue of section 17(2)(l) of the Defamation Act 2009, they are protected by absolute privilege in respect of the evidence they give to this committee. If they are directed by the committee to cease giving evidence on a particular matter and continue to so do, they are entitled thereafter to only 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 are asked to respect the parliamentary practice to the effect that, where possible, they should not criticise or make charges against a person or persons or entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable. Members should also be aware of the long-standing ruling of the Chair to the effect that they should not comment on, criticise or make charges against a person or persons outside the Houses or an official by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.

Mr. Garvey has five minutes to bring the salient points to our attention.

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