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

This meeting has been convened to hear from the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, ISPCC, the Children's Rights Alliance and CyberSafeKids. It is the fifth of our public hearings to discuss the general scheme of the Online Safety and Media Regulation Bill 2020. I welcome the witnesses who will be joining us remotely via Teams: Mr. John Church, chief executive officer of the ISPCC, and his colleague Ms Fiona Jennings, senior policy and public affairs manager; Ms Tanya Ward, chief executive of the Children's Rights Alliance, and her colleague Ms Julie Ahern, legal and policy manager; and Ms Alex Cooney, chief executive officer of CyberSafeKids.

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. Opening statements will be limited to three minutes each, if possible.

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 a witness who is physically present does.

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 they must be physically present within the confines of Leinster House or the Convention Centre Dublin to participate in public meetings. 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 identify themselves when contributing for the benefit of Debates Office staff preparing the Official Report and to mute their microphones when not making a statement to reduce background noise and feedback. I encourage members and guests to use the raise hand button when they wish to contribute. I remind those joining the meeting to ensure their mobile phones are switched off or on silent. Either would be great.

It is wonderful to have our guests here. I invite Mr. John Church to make an address to the committee on behalf of the ISPCC.