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

The purpose of today's meeting is to discuss equality and non-discrimination. On behalf of the committee, I welcome Ms Elaine Dennehy and Ms Anna Levin from LightAware and Ms Finola Cassidy and Ms Jacqui Browne from the Irish Thalidomide Association. I am not sure whether Dr. Angela Unufe-Kennedy from the Migrant and Minority Disability Network Europe has joined us.

I remind members that they are only allowed to participate in the meeting if they are physically located in the Leinster House complex. If members are joining remotely, I ask that them to confirm that they are on the grounds of the Leinster House complex prior to contributing to the meeting. For anyone watching these proceedings online, witnesses or anyone accessing the meeting remotely, due to the unprecedented circumstances, I ask everybody to bear with us if any technical issues arise.

I understand there are some issues with Microsoft Teams this morning. I ask the representatives to bear with us.

On privilege, witnesses are directed that only evidence connected with the subject matter of these proceedings should be given. They are asked to respect the parliamentary practice to the effect that, where possible, they should not comment on or criticise any person or entity by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable. I wish to advise witnesses giving evidence from a location outside the parliamentary precincts to note that the constitutional protections afforded to witnesses giving evidence before the committee may not extend to them. No clear guidance can be given on this. Persons giving evidence from another jurisdiction should be mindful of that statutory regime. If witnesses are directed by the committee to cease giving evidence on a particular matter, they must respect that decision.

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 call Ms Dennehy to make her opening remarks.