Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

We will continue on the theme of mental health and mental health services. From Mental Health Reform, I welcome Dr. Shari McDaid, director, and Ms Kate Mitchell, policy and research officer. Mental Health Reform is an umbrella group that represents more than 50 organisations working and advocating in the area of mental health. It promotes improved and prioritised mental health services in Ireland and best practice in all aspects of service provision to people experiencing mental health difficulties. I thank Dr. McDaid for making herself available. She had other commitments this morning, so we very much appreciate her coming in.

I will deal with some formalities first. I advise the witnesses that by virtue of section 17(2)(l) of the Defamation Act 2009, they are protected by absolute privilege in respect of their evidence to the committee. 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 or entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable. Members are reminded of the long-standing ruling of the Chair to the effect that they should not comment on, criticise or make charges against a person outside the House or an official either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.

I now ask Dr. McDaid to make her presentation.