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

Apologies have been received from Senators O'Loughlin and Seery Kearney. The purpose of today's meeting is to discuss aligning disability services with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, UNCRPD, future systems and innovation, and service providers. On behalf of the committee, I welcome the following: Mr. Peter Broadhead of the Australian National Disability Insurance Scheme; Dr. Simon Walsh and Ms Fiona Walsh; Ms Louise Loughlin and Ms Joanne Condon from the National Advocacy Service for People with Disabilities; and Ms Aoife O'Toole.

I must remind members that they are only allowed to participate in the meeting if they are within the confines of Leinster House. In this regard, if members are joining the meeting remotely, I ask them to confirm they are on the grounds of Leinster House before they make a contribution to the meeting. For anybody who is watching the meeting online, the witnesses are joining us remotely, not just from Ireland but from across the world, and if there are any unprecedented circumstances, I ask everybody to bear with us should any technical issues arise.

Before we commence formal proceedings, witnesses are directed that only evidence connected with the subject matter of these proceedings is to be given and they are asked to respect the parliamentary practice to the effect that, where possible, they should not criticise or make charges against any person, persons or entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable. I advise witnesses giving evidence from a location outside the parliamentary precincts to note that constitutional protections afforded to witnesses attending to give evidence before the committee may not extend to them. No clear guidance can be given on that issue and, of course, persons giving evidence from another jurisdiction should be mindful of the domestic statutory regime. If witnesses are directed by the committee to cease giving evidence on a particular matter, they should respect that direction.

I remind members of the long-standing parliamentary practice that they should not to comment on, criticise or make charges against a person or persons outside the Houses in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.

I call on Mr. Broadhead to make his opening remarks.