Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

In this afternoon's session we will hear from advocacy and service providers, as well as from Dr. Geoffrey Shannon, the Government's special rapporteur for child protection, who will be joining us presently. From BeLonGTo, I welcome Mr. John Duffy and Ms Arianna Gallagher; from Inclusion Ireland, I welcome Ms Sarah Lennon and Ms Julie Helen; from Lucena Clinic, I welcome Dr. Maria Migone and Dr. Glenda Kavanagh; from the Children Rights Alliance, I welcome Ms Julie Ahern and Ms Saoirse Brady; from the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, I welcome Ms Mary Nicholson and Mr. Andrew Jackson; from Mental Health Reform, I welcome Ms Kate Mitchell and Ms Shari McDaid; and from the Psychiatric Nurses Association, I welcome Mr. Peter Hughes. They are all most welcome and I thank them for engaging with the committee on this most important and sensitive topic.

Before we begin, I advise witnesses that by virtue of 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 do so, they are entitled thereafter only to a qualified privilege in respect of their evidence. Witnesses 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 a Member of either House, a person outside the House or an official by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable. Any opening statements that have been submitted to the committee will be published on its website after the meeting.

I invite Senator Joan Freeman to make a few introductory remarks.

I will then invite each witness to make a short presentation to the committee. Time will be of the essence this afternoon. Witnesses may share time with colleagues if they wish to do so. I ask that be indicated in advance. As there will be a large number of witnesses in this session, I ask that presenters keep their opening statements as brief as possible. When the presentations have finished it is hoped there will be time for questions and comments from Senators and responses from the witnesses. With that I call on Senator Freeman.