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

The joint committee has identified immigration and the refugee crisis as one of its priority issues in its 2016 work programme. For the information of the witnesses, we are building on work that has already been addressed by this committee because we believe it is important to revisit and re-inject impetus into particular issues. We have selected a number of issues this year.

I welcome Ms Finn and Ms DeWan to the meeting. On behalf of the joint committee, I thank them for their attendance here today.

The format of the meeting is that the delegates will be invited to make a brief opening address that will be followed by a question-and-answer session with members.

Before we begin I must draw the attention of witnesses to privilege. I ask the witnesses to note that they 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.

I invite Ms Finn to make her opening statement on behalf of NASC.