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

Apologies have been received from Deputy Tully and Senator Bacik. Today's meeting is to discuss the implementation of the United Nations Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities, UNCRPD, and the ratification of the optional protocol. I extend a warm welcome on behalf of the committee to Mr. Markus Schefer, a member of the United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, Ms Catherine Naughton, director of the European Disability Forum, and Mr. Pat Clarke, vice president of the European Disability Forum. We are also delighted to welcome members of the Spanish Senate Comisión para las Políticas Integrales de la Discapacidad. It is an honour to have this meeting and everyone is extremely welcome. We look forward to the discussion.

I remind members they are only allowed to participate in this meeting if they are physically located within the precincts of the Leinster House complex or in the convention centre, if the Dáil and Seanad are sitting there. This meeting is online, so I ask people to bear with us if there are technical issues.

Before we start the proceedings proper, I must begin with some formalities. Regarding matters of privilege, witnesses are directed that only evidence connected with the subject matter of the proceedings should be given and they are asked to respect the parliamentary practice to the effect that they should not criticise or make charges against a person, persons or entity by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable. I advise witnesses giving evidence from a location outside of the parliamentary precincts to note that the constitutional protection afforded to witnesses attending to give evidence before committees may not extend to them. No clear guidance can be given as to whether or to what extent the evidence given online is covered by absolute privilege of a statutory nature. Persons giving evidence from other jurisdictions should be mindful of their domestic statutory regimes. If witnesses are directed by the committee to cease giving evidence in relation to a particular matter, they should respect that direction.

Members are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice, as stated previously, not to comment on, criticise or make charges against a person outside the Houses or an official in such a way as to make him or her identifiable. I now call Mr. Schefer to make his opening remarks.