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

I remind members and witnesses to turn off their mobile telephones or switch them to flight mode as they interfere with the sound system and make it difficult for the parliamentary reporters to report proceedings. Television coverage and Internet streaming can also be adversely affected.

The next item on our agenda is our engagement with stakeholders on the effectiveness and timeliness of consent classes in third-level institutions. On behalf of the committee, I welcome Dr. Pádraig MacNeela from the school of psychology at National University of Ireland Galway, NUIG; Dr. Brian Gormley, head of campus life at Dublin Institute of Technology, DIT; Mr. Shane De Rís, president of Trinity College Dublin Students Union; Ms. Síona Cahill, president of the Union of Students in Ireland; Dr. Clíona Saidléar, executive director of Rape Crisis Network Ireland, and Mr. Phillip Crosby, principal officer at the Department of Education and Skills. The format of this part of the meeting will be that I will invite each of our guests to make a brief opening statement for a maximum of three minutes. This will be followed by engagement with members.

I draw the attention of our guests 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.

I advise our guests that any opening statements they make will be published on the committee's website after the meeting. I thank them for their patience in waiting for us while we dealt with other business. This is a very important topic. All of the committee members felt we should examine it and hear from universities, students - who are incredibly important in all of this - and Rape Crisis Network Ireland.