Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Apologies have been received from Deputy Peter Fitzpatrick. We have one item of committee business to address before I call on the witnesses to present, that is, the draft minutes of our meetings on 5 and 6 May, both the public and private sessions. Are those minutes agreed? Agreed. There are no matters arising.

We will now proceed to our pre-legislative scrutiny. This meeting has been convened with representatives of the Ombudsman for Children's Office, OCO, the special rapporteur on child protection, Professor Conor O'Mahony, representatives from the National Anti-Bullying Research and Resource Centre and from the DCU institute of future media, democracy and society. This is the fourth of our public hearings to discuss the general scheme of the online safety and media regulation Bill.

Our guests are all very welcome. We have to hold these meetings virtually and, of course, it never feels the same as having our guests present in the committee rooms, but we are delighted to be joined by them. I thank them very much for their presence.

I would like to welcome the witnesses who are joining us remotely. I welcome Dr. Karen McAuley, head of policy at the Ombudsman for Children's Office, OCO; Professor Conor O'Mahony, special rapporteur on child protection; Dr. Eileen Culloty from institute for future media, democracy and society in DCU; and Dr. Tijana Milosvevic from the National Anti-Bullying Research and Resource Centre.

The format of the meeting is such that I will invite witnesses to make their opening statements, which will be followed by questions from members of the committee. As the witnesses are probably aware, the committee may publish the opening statements on its website following the meeting. I will call the representatives of each organisation to deliver their opening statement in the following order: Dr. McAuley, Professor O'Mahony and a representative of the institute for future media, democracy and society. The opening statements are limited to three minutes per organisation.

I would advise witnesses of the following regarding parliamentary privilege. Witnesses are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice that 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, or otherwise engage in speech that might be regarded as damaging to the good name of any person or entity. Therefore, if witnesses' statements are potentially defamatory in relation to an identifiable person or entity, they will be directed to discontinue their remarks. It is imperative that they comply with any such direction. As our witnesses are attending remotely from outside the Leinster House campus, they should note that there are some limitations to parliamentary privilege and, as such, they may not benefit from the same level of immunity from legal proceedings as witnesses who are physically present do.

Members are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that they should not comment on, criticise or make charges against a person outside the House, or an official either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable. I remind members of the constitutional requirements whereby members must be physically present within the confines of Leinster House or the Convention Centre Dublin. I will not permit a member to attend where he or she is not adhering to the constitutional requirements. Therefore, any member who attempts to attend from outside the precincts will be asked to leave the meeting.

I ask members to please identify themselves when contributing for the benefit of Debates Office staff preparing the Official Report, to mute their microphones when not contributing to reduce background noise and feedback and to use the raise hand button when they wish to make a contribution. I remind those joining today's meeting to ensure their mobile phones are switched off or on silent.

I invite Dr. McAuley to make her opening statement on behalf of the Ombudsman for Children's Office, OCO.