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

The purpose of this part of the meeting is to engage with officials from the Department of Education and Skills in respect of the operation of Caranua, the State agency under the aegis of the Department which is responsible for the administration of the residential institutions statutory fund. On behalf of the committee I welcome Mr. Ned Costello, assistant secretary general, Ms Catherine Hynes, principal officer, and Mr. Aongus Ó hAonghusa, assistant principal officer. The format of this part of the meeting is that I will invite our stakeholders to make a brief opening statement of no more than three minutes' duration, which will be followed by engagement with members of the committee.

Before we begin, 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 Chair 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.

Any opening statements made to the committee will be published on the committee website after the meeting. 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.