Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

From Sightsavers Ireland I welcome Mr. Charlie Lamson, CEO, and Ms Fatoumata Diouf, its regional director for west Africa. From Christian Blind Missions I welcome Dr. Mary Keogh and, from Oxfam Ireland, Ms Niamh Carty, its programme director.

Members and delegates are requested to ensure that for the duration of the meeting their mobile phones are turned off completely or switched to airplane, safe or flight mode, depending on the device used. It is not sufficient to leave them in silent mode as they will still maintain a level of interference with the broadcasting and recording systems.

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 joint committee. If they are directed by the Chairman to cease giving evidence on a particular matter and continue to do so, they are entitled thereafter only to 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 asked to respect the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that they should not comment on, criticise or make charges against a person or an entity outside the Houses or an official, either by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable.

I call Mr. Lamson to make his opening statement.