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

The purpose of today's meeting is to meet with the Minister of State at the Department of Justice and Equality, Deputy Finian McGrath, who has special responsibility for disabilities, to discuss progress on, among other issues, the Disability (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2016, the Optional Protocol to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015 and the provisions not yet commenced and the implementation of the National Disability Inclusion Strategy 2017-2021. I welcome the Minister of State and his officials. We were a little unsure that we would have the Minister of State here today but he is in good fettle. I wish him the best. Unfortunately, a number of the committee's members are unable to attend the meeting this morning. We have received apologies from Deputies Mick Wallace and Clare Daly and Senator Frances Black, so our number is somewhat depleted as a consequence.

Before we begin, I will give the caution on privilege. Members, including the Minister of State, should be aware that under the salient rulings of the Chair members 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.

I invite the Minister of State to make his opening statement.