Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome our guests in committee room 1. They are: Ms Teresa Heeney, chief executive officer, and Ms Frances Byrne, director of policy and advocacy, from Early Childhood Ireland: Ms Marian Quinn, chairperson, and Ms Paula Donohoe, member of the national committee, from the Association of Childhood Professionals; and Ms Marie Daly, CEO, and Ms Rachel Grant, HR manager, Crann Support Group.

I wish to 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 witnesses 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 manner as to make him, her or it identifiable. We expect witnesses to answer questions asked by the committee clearly and with candour. However, witnesses can and should expect to be treated fairly and with respect and consideration at all times in accordance with the witness protocol.

I ask Ms Heeney to make her opening remarks and to confine them to five minutes because we are tight for time.