Fiona O'Loughlin (Kildare South, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

We are now in public session. I remind members and witnesses to either turn off their mobile phones or place them in flight mode as they interfere with the sound system. Apart from those who are watching at home on television, the parliamentary reporters are following the meeting and their work would be adversely affected.

Item No. 4 on the agenda is our engagement with stakeholders on the committee's review of relationships and sexuality education. This is the second of three meetings we are holding on the topic. At the first session of the review, we undertook an investigation into the effectiveness of the current model of sexual health and relationships education. We heard from users, parents, teachers and student representative bodies as well as the Department of Education and the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment, NCCA. In this second session, we will be looking at the elements which need to be considered in a future model of sexual health and relationship education.

On behalf of the committee, I welcome Ms Elaine Byrnes, doctoral researcher from the school of psychology at National University of Ireland Galway, NUIG, Ms Sarah Lennon, communications and information manager at Inclusion Ireland, Ms Moninne Griffith, executive director at BeLonGTo, Ms Anna Keogh, an academic working in the area, Ms Rachael Treanor, health promotion officer at the National Youth Council of Ireland, and Ms Alex Cooney, CEO of CyberSafe Ireland. I will invite each of the witnesses to make an opening statement. I thank them for their written submissions. Speakers will have a maximum of three minutes for each opening statement and that will be followed by an engagement with members of the committee. We will call on members in order and Deputy Paul Murphy and Senator Warfield, who are not members, will then be given an opportunity to ask questions and comment.

I draw the attention of witnesses to the fact that by virtue of section 17(2)(l) of the Defamation Act 2009, witnesses are protected by absolute privilege in respect of their evidence to the committee. However, 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, persons or 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 House or an official either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.

Any opening statements to the committee will be published on its website after the meeting. I note that Ms Cooney must leave at 5 p.m. for another engagement. I ask members to put questions to Ms Cooney first in order to accommodate her.