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

We will commence the meeting in public session. Apologies have been received from Senators Niall Ó Donnghaile, Frances Black and Martin Conway. I ask everyone present to switch off all mobile phones, please, as they interfere with the sound recording system in the committee rooms. I officially thank Senator Grace O'Sullivan for her attendance here this morning to establish the quorum. Go raibh míle maith agat, a Sheanadóir. The purpose of today's meeting is to meet the special rapporteur on child protection, Dr. Geoffrey Shannon, to discuss the findings of his audit on child protection published earlier this year, with specific reference to the role of An Garda Síochána.

On behalf of the committee I welcome Dr. Shannon and thank him for his attendance. The format of the meeting is that he will be invited to make an opening statement and this will be followed by a question and answer session. Before we begin I have to draw the attention of our witness to the situation in relation to privilege. He should please note that he is protected by absolute privilege in respect of the evidence he is to give to the joint committee. However, if he is directed by it to cease giving evidence on a particular matter and he continues to do so, he is entitled thereafter only to qualified privilege in respect of his evidence. He is directed that only evidence connected with the subject matter of these proceedings is to be given and he is asked to respect the parliamentary practice to the effect that, where possible, he 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 of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that 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.

Before I invite Dr. Shannon to make his opening statement I also welcome Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire, our new attendee, who is replacing our former attendee, Deputy O'Brien. Fáilte romhat anseo ar maidin. I now invite Dr. Shannon to make his opening statement.