John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome Ms Danielle McLaughlin, policy officer, and Mr. Gordon Hill, senior manager, from Crosscare and Mr. Mark Byrne, chief executive officer, and Mr. Brendan Lennon, head of advocacy, from Chime. I will invite our guests from Crosscare to make their presentation first, after which our guests from Chime will make theirs. Members will then have questions. All of our guests are free to contribute to the responses and it can be as informal as they want.

I draw the attention 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 joint committee. However, if they are directed by the committee 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 parliamentary practice to the effect that, where possible, they should not criticise or make charges against any person 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 Houses or an official either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable. I ask that mobile phones be switched off.

I invite Ms McLaughlin to make her opening statement.