Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

On behalf of the committee, I welcome the following witnesses to the second session on Travellers and social inclusion: Mr. Chris McDonagh of the Traveller Mediation Service; Mr. Denis Robinson, doctoral candidate at University College Cork; Ms Lynn Scarff and Ms Rosa Meehan of the National Museum of Ireland; Ms Maria Joyce, co-ordinator of the National Traveller Women's Forum, Mr. Oein de Bhairdúin of the national action group for LGBT Traveller and Roma rights; Dr. Karl Kitching, director of equality, diversity and inclusion at UCC; Ms RoseMarie Maughan of Hearing Autistic Traveller Voices; Mr. Thomas McCann of the Traveller Counselling Service; Ms Brigid Carmody, co-ordinator of the Cork Traveller Women's Network; Ms Louise Harrington, community development worker with the Cork Traveller Women's Network; and Ms Eilis Barry, chief executive of Free Legal Advice Centres, FLAC. They are all most welcome and I thank them for engaging with the committee in its consideration of this most important topic.

Before we begin, I draw their attention 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 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 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 statement witnesses have made to the committee will be published on the committee's website after the meeting.

I invite Senator Kelleher, our co-ordinator and, more importantly, our rapporteur to whom we are most grateful - we would not have this subject matter before us without her - to make some introductory remarks. I will then invite each witness to make a short presentation to the committee. They may share time with a colleague if they so wish. If they do, I ask them to indicate that to me when invited to speak. When the presentations are finished, I hope there will be time for questions and comments from Senators and responses from witnesses. I am conscious that the Seanad will be sitting in this Chamber later this afternoon.