John Paul Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

As we have a quorum, we shall commence. This is the fourth meeting of the committee. Today, we shall meet Ms Emily Logan, the Chief Commissioner of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission. She is accompanied by Dr. Mary Murphy, commission member, Mr. Laurence Bond, head of research, and Ms Niamh Connolly, who is formerly of this parish and who works in the communications section of the commission. We are also joined by Mr. David Hegarty, principal officer, economics division, Department of Finance, and Ms Sarah Swaine and Ms Jessica Lawless, assistant principal officers in the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.

Before we begin, I wish to draw the attention of witnesses to the fact that they are protected by absolute privilege in respect of their evidence to the committee. However, if they are directed by the committee 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 and they are asked to respect the parliamentary practice to the effect that, where possible, 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.

On behalf of the committee, I welcome all of the delegates and thank them for meeting us. There was a difficulty about having the meeting tomorrow and I thank them for facilitating us today. As they will be aware, the committee is drawing a blueprint for the more effective scrutiny of budgetary proposals. There is an opportunity for the Oireachtas to play a greater role in the budgetary cycle. In that regard, having all proposals subjected to scrutiny from equality, poverty and other perspectives will be extremely important. This issue has been raised by members of the committee. That is reason it is important we hear directly from the members of the commission. I thank them for their submission. I now invite Ms Logan to make her opening statement.