Chairman:

Today we meet with Mr. Jim Clarken, CEO of Oxfam Ireland, and Suzanne Keatinge, CEO of Dóchas, to discuss the issue of global migration, particularly in advance of the UN Summit for Refugees and Migrants to be held in September. I extend a warm welcome to them and their colleagues from the sector, including Marissa Ryan, head of advocacy and campaigns for Oxfam Ireland, Réiseal Ní Chéilleachair of Trócaire and Louise Finan of Christian Aid Ireland, who, I understand, may also assist with responses to members' questions that will arise during the discussions.

The meeting in September will be co-facilitated by Ireland's ambassador to the United Nations, David Donoghue, and his Jordanian counterpart. Today's meeting affords the members of this committee an opportunity to receive an update on measures being proposed and required to address the large movement of refugees and migrants. I am aware that the co-facilitators have been in constant contact with representatives of civil society, which has included a large number of bilateral meetings with NGOs. The figures recently released by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees are stark as they indicate that 65.3 million people are forcibly displaced as a result of persecution, conflict, generalised violence or human rights violations.

The format of the meeting is that we will hear opening statements before moving on to a question-and-answer session with the members of the committee. Before we commence, I remind members, witnesses and those in the Visitors Gallery to ensure that their mobile telephones are switched off completely, not just on silent, for the entire duration of this meeting as they cause interference, even on silent mode, with the recording equipment in the committee room. I also 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 body outside the Houses or an official, either by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it 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 joint committee. If they are directed by the Chairman to cease giving evidence on a particular matter and 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 that, where possible, they should not criticise or make charges against any person or entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable.