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

The purpose of this part of today's meeting is to continue a series of engagements examining the direct provision and the international protection application process. This is the third of four hearings and a visit to direct provision centres will also be included later this week. We are joined by Ms Tanya Ward, chief executive, Children's Rights Alliance, and Ms Julie Ahern, access to justice manager; Ms Fiona Finn, chief executive, and Fiona Hurley, communications and policy manager, NASC, the migrant and refugee centre; and Dr. Liam Thornton, University College Dublin. They are all welcome here to discuss this important issue.

I will shortly invite the nominated witnesses to make their opening statements, which I propose to do in the order in which I introduced them. Before doing that, I first have to advise on privilege for witnesses who come before an Oireachtas committee. 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.

By virtue of 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.