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

The purpose of this morning's engagement is to resume our consideration of the issues of access to justice and legal costs. We are joined by Ms Rose Wall, chief executive officer, and Ms Jane O'Sullivan, managing solicitor, Community Law and Mediation, CLM; Ms Rebecca Keatinge, managing solicitor, and Mr. Paul Dornan, solicitor, Mercy Law Resource Centre; and Professor Gerard Whyte, Trinity College Dublin. They are all very welcome. I will shortly invite witnesses to make their opening statements in the order in which I introduced them, but first I must ask them and anyone in the Visitors Gallery to please switch off their mobile phones, since they interfere with the recording equipment. I have to read the caution related to privilege.

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.

Members of the committee should be aware that under 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.

I invite Ms Wall to make her opening statement.