Michael McNamara (Clare, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome representatives from the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, Free Legal Advice Centres, FLAC, and the Irish Council for Civil Liberties, ICCL, who are here to discuss human rights and civil liberty considerations. From the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, I welcome Ms Sinéad Gibney, chief commissioner, and Ms Sunniva McDonagh, member of the commission. From FLAC, I welcome Ms Eilis Barry, CEO, and Mr. Christopher Bowes, legal officer. From the ICCL, I welcome Mr. Liam Herrick, executive director, and Ms Doireann Ansbro, senior researcher and policy officer.

Before we commence the formal proceedings, 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 they are directed by the committee to cease giving evidence in relation to a particular matter, they must respect that direction. 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 nor make charges against any person or entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable.

I ask Ms Gibney to make her opening statement. I ask all witnesses to please limit their opening statements to five minutes to allow time for questions and answers.