Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

We have received apologies from Deputy Alan Farrell. This is the first of two sessions today. We are about to begin with representatives of Pavee Point, Mincéirs Whiden and Ms Anastasia Crickley, chairperson of the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination a discussion on the recognition of Traveller ethnicity, one of the priority issues we have identified in our work programme for 2016. I welcome Mr. Martin Collins and Mr. Ronnie Fay, directors of Pavee Point Traveller and Roma Centre; Mr. Thomas McCann from Mincéirs Whiden and Ms Anastasia Crickley, chairperson of the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. On behalf of the joint committee, I thank them for their attendance to discuss this very important issue. The first session will be followed by engagement with Dr. Robbie McVeigh on the same topic.

The format of the meeting is that the delegates will be invited to make a brief opening address which will be followed by a question and answer session. Witnesses are protected by absolute privilege in respect of the evidence they are to give to the committee. If they are directed by it to cease giving evidence on a particular matter and continue to so do, they are entitled thereafter only to 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 asked to respect the parliamentary practice to the effect that, where possible, they should not criticise or make charges against any person or an entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable. Members are reminded that under the salient rulings of the Chair, they should not comment on, criticise or make charges against a person outside the Houses or an official, either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.