Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

We are joined from committee room 1 by officials from the Department of Justice and Equality to deal with the response to the Covid outbreak in direct provision centres. I welcome Ms Oonagh Buckley, deputy Secretary General, civil justice and equality, Mr. Michael Kirrane, assistant secretary and head of immigration service delivery, and Mr. Mark Wilson, principal officer, international protection accommodation services. We are also joined by the following representatives from the HSE: Ms Siobhan McArdle, head of operations, primary care; Dr. Kevin Kelleher, assistant national director, strategic planning and transformation, public health and child health; and Mr. T.J. Dunford, head of service, primary care operations.

I advise our guests 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 this committee. If they are directed by the committee to cease giving evidence on a particular matter and 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 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. While we expect witnesses to answer questions asked by the committee clearly and with candour, they can and should expect to be treated fairly and with respect and consideration at all times, in accordance with the witness protocol.

I invite Ms Buckley to make her opening remarks. I remind members that they will have five to ten minutes for questions and responses from the witnesses. I ask Ms Buckley to keep her opening remarks to five minutes.