Eileen Flynn (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome our witnesses. Before I introduce them and we hear from them, I wish to mention apologies that have been received from some Deputies and Senators, including Deputies Bríd Smith and David Stanton, who cannot make the meeting.

I thank the Business Committee for organising and facilitating our meeting in public session. I remind members that they must be in Leinster House or in the grounds of the convention centre in Dublin to attend this meeting. If members attempt to participate from outside the Leinster House precincts, I will ask them to leave the meeting.

I also remind witnesses that as they are giving evidence from outside Leinster House, they may not have the same privilege as if they were attending in Leinster House. They may feel it is appropriate to take legal advice on the matter. They are again reminded they should not criticise or make charges against any person or damage the good name of any person. They must stop if I state they are breaking the rules.

I propose we approve the minutes of our previous meeting held on 18 May. Is that agreed? Agreed.

Today we will receive submissions and hear about Traveller accommodation. It is our first public session in which we will meet witnesses regarding Traveller accommodation. I am honoured to be the first Traveller to chair this committee. I am also honoured that we have started with accommodation because we know of the major inequalities Travellers face in this area.

I welcome the Irish Traveller Movement, ITM, the National Travellers Women’s Network and Pavee Point Traveller and Roma Centre to this session on Traveller accommodation. Before we hear from our witnesses, I propose we publish their opening statements and submissions to the committee website.

On behalf of the committee, I am delighted to welcome Ms Jacinta Brack, co-ordinator of political advocacy, communications and campaigns, and Ms RoseMarie Maughan and Ms Emily Murtagh, both of whom are national accommodation policy officers, ITM; Ms Bridget Kelly, community development worker, and Ms Maria Joyce, co-ordinator, National Travellers Women’s Network; and Mr. Martin Collins, Pavee Point Traveller and Roma Centre. I suggest that each organisation make an opening statement of five to ten minutes maximum. We will then have questions and comments from members of the committee of five minutes maximum.

I invite Ms RoseMarie Maughan to make her opening statement.