Kathleen Funchion (Carlow-Kilkenny, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Apologies have been received from Deputy Ward. I wish to advise members that Deputy Cairns has taken the place of Deputy Whitmore on the committee. I welcome Deputy Cairns.

Before we begin, I remind members who are participating remotely to keep their devices on mute until they are invited to speak. When they are speaking, I would ask that, where possible, they have their cameras switched on and be mindful that we are in public session. In addition, I remind members of the constitutional requirement that they must be physically present within the confines of the place where the Parliament has chosen to sit, namely, Leinster House, in order to participate in public meetings. I cannot permit a member to participate where he or she is not adhering to this constitutional requirement. Therefore, any member who attempts to participate in this meeting from outside the precincts will be refused.

Today is our resumed consideration of the Ombudsman for Children's report, entitled Unmet Needs, with the Minister of State at the Department of Health with responsibility for disability, Deputy Rabbitte. We welcome her. She is addressing the committee from a meeting room in Kildare House. I also extend a welcome to the officials accompanying her, Ms Jenny Anderson, assistant principal officer, and Mr. Noel Byrne, special adviser to the Minister of State.

The purpose of our meeting is to continue our discussion of the issues identified in the report, which was published in October 2020 by the Ombudsman for Children, Dr. Niall Muldoon. The report identifies serious shortcomings in how assessments of the needs of children are now conducted and the unacceptable waiting lists that face children who require an assessment of their needs. On 15 December 2020, the Minister of State appeared before the committee on this topic. Members of the committee felt that it would be beneficial to engage with her again for a further update on the matter. I remind members that, when putting their questions to her, they should adhere to the agenda item scheduled for this meeting, which is an examination of the contents of the report.

Before I invite the Minister of State to deliver her opening statement, I will advise her of the parliamentary privilege situation. She is protected by absolute privilege in respect of the presentation she makes to the committee. This means that she has an absolute defence against any defamation action for anything she says at the meeting. However, she is expected not to abuse this privilege and it is my duty as Chair to ensure it is not abused. Therefore, if her statements are potentially defamatory to an identifiable person or entity, she will be directed to discontinue her remarks. It is imperative that she comply with any such direction.

I invite the Minister of State to deliver her opening statement, which will be followed by a questions and answers session with members. Members will be asked to speak in the order they indicate. They might start indicating now.