Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome everyone to our meeting. We have received apologies from Senator O'Loughlin.

The purpose of today's meeting is to discuss the progress of the national disability inclusion strategy. To that end, I welcome our witnesses. We are almost six months behind schedule with Covid and everything else. This meeting was due to take place earlier. I extend a very warm welcome on my behalf and on behalf of the committee to Ms Lorraine Dempsey, interim CEO of Inclusion Ireland, and Ms Jacqui Browne, chairperson of the Disabled Persons Organisations Coalition, who is here on behalf of Inclusion Ireland. I also welcome Mr. John Dolan, chief executive officer, and Dr. Joanne McCarthy, head of policy, advocacy and engagement with the Disability Federation Ireland.

I must remind members that they are allowed to participate in this meeting only if they are physically located in the Leinster House complex. In this regard, if members are joining remotely, I ask them to confirm that they are on the grounds of the Leinster House complex prior to making a contribution to the meeting. I ask anyone watching the meeting online and witnesses accessing the meeting remotely, due to the unprecedented circumstances, to bear with us should any technical issues arise.

Before we commence the formal proceedings, I will begin with some formalities. First is the note on privilege. Witnesses are directed that only evidence connected with the subject matter of these proceedings is to be given and are asked to respect the long-standing 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. I advise the witnesses giving evidence from a location outside of the parliamentary precincts to note that the constitutional protections afforded to witnesses attending to give evidence before committees may not extend to them. No clear guidance can be given as to whether or not or to what extent their evidence is covered by absolute privilege of a statutory nature. Persons giving evidence from other jurisdictions should be mindful of their domestic statutory regimes. If they are directed by the Chairman of the committee to cease giving evidence relating to a particular matter, they must respect that direction.

I will go straight into the business of the committee. I call Ms Dempsey, interim CEO of Inclusion Ireland, to make her opening remarks.