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

The purpose of this morning's engagement is to begin a series of hearings on the separate but related issues of access to justice and legal costs.

We are joined from the Free Legal Advice Centres, FLAC by Ms Eilis Barry, the chief executive, and Ms Deirdre Malone, legal manager with the FLAC public interest law project, PILA. From the Law Society of Ireland we are joined by Ms Michele O'Boyle, the president, Mr. Ken Murphy, director general, and Mr. Stuart Gilhooly. From the Bar Council of Ireland we are joined by Mr. Conor Dignam senior counsel, vice chair, Mr. Seán Ó hUallacháin, senior counsel, treasurer, and Ms Ciara Murphy, chief executive. You are all very welcome. From the Legal Aid Board we are joined by Mr. Philip O'Leary, chairperson, Mr. John McDaid, chief executive, and Ms Catherine Ryan, managing solicitor of the law centre in Limerick. Thank you all very much indeed for your attendance today.

I will shortly invite you to make your opening statements in the order in which I have introduced you, if that is okay. It is in no special construct. First, I must draw the attention of our witnesses to the situation relating to privilege. Please note that you are protected by absolute privilege in respect of the evidence you are to give to the committee. However, if you are directed by the committee to cease giving evidence on a particular matter and you continue to so do, you are entitled thereafter only to a qualified privilege in respect of your evidence. You are directed that only evidence connected with the subject matter of these proceedings is to be given and you are asked to respect the parliamentary practice to the effect that, where possible, you 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.

Members should be aware that under the salient rulings of the Chair 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.

This is the first of our series of hearings that will continue into the month of December on this subject. This is our first address of these matters.

I invite Ms Barry to make her opening statement on behalf of FLAC.