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

The purpose of the meeting is to meet the Garda Inspectorate to discuss a number of issues, including progress in the review of Garda oversight and accountability since the joint committee's report and recommendations in December 2016, the inspectorate's recent report on responding to child sexual abuse and the views of the inspectorate on the Garda Síochána (Amendment) Bill 2017, of which the committee will conduct further detailed scrutiny next week. It is a Private Members' Bill sponsored by Deputy Jim O'Callaghan.

From the Garda Inspectorate I welcome Mr. Mark Toland, chief inspector; Ms Pauline Shields, deputy chief inspector; and Mr. Hugh Hume, deputy chief inspector, to all of whom I offer a sincere apology for the unfortunate circumstances in which we had to let them go on a previous occasion, about which we are very sorry. The business in hand became quite detailed and, unfortunately, we were unable to facilitate them in appearing before us on that occasion. We thank them for their patience and appearing before the committee today.

Members should be aware 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.

Witnesses are protected by absolute privilege in respect of the evidence they are to give to the committee. However, if they are directed by the committee 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.

I invite Mr. Toland to make his opening statement.