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

I request our guests, both on the panel and in the Gallery, to switch off their mobile phones as they interfere with the recording equipment in the committee rooms. The purpose of today's meeting is to conduct pre-legislative scrutiny of the general scheme of the Thirty-eighth amendment of the Constitution (Role of Women) Bill. For the first session, I welcome the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Charles Flanagan, and his officials. Before beginning, members 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 by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable. Without any further ado, I invite the Minister to make his opening statement.