Dominic Hannigan (Meath East, Labour) | Oireachtas source

We are delighted to be joined by Mr. Johnny Sheehan, project co-ordinator with Dóchas, Dr. Lorna Gold from Trócaire and Ms Marissa Ryan from Oxfam. Dóchas first brought the European Year for Development 2015 to the attention of the committee when the organisation met here in 2014. The committee will remember Mr. Hans Zomer who presented then. Hans has moved on to other things and is now working at Áras an Uachtaráin in the Phoenix Park.

Members are keen to be updated on developments and on behalf of the joint committee, I welcome the witnesses to this meeting.

Before we proceed, 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 persons 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 committee. If witnesses are directed by the Chairman to cease giving evidence on a particular matter and they continue to do so, they are entitled thereafter only to qualified privilege in respect of their evidence. Witnesses 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 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.

I invite Mr. Johnny Sheehan to begin.