Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour) | Oireachtas source

Members have the option of being physically present in the committee room or may join the meeting via Microsoft Teams from their Leinster House offices but may not participate in the meeting from outside parliamentary precincts. I ask members joining on Teams to mute their microphones when not making a contribution and to use the raise hand function to indicate. All those present in the committee room are asked to exercise personal responsibility to protect themselves from the risk of contracting Covid-19.

Today we are considering the recommendations of the Citizens' Assembly on Gender Equality regarding care and social protection with officials from the Department of Social Protection. I welcome Mr. Rónán Hession, assistant secretary, working age and family policy division; and Mr. Ciarán Lawler, assistant secretary, corporate division. I thank them both for coming before the committee today.

Before we begin, I will read an important notice regarding parliamentary privilege. Witnesses are protected by absolute privilege in respect of the evidence they give to the committee. However, if they are directed by the committee to cease giving evidence on a particular matter and continue to do so, they are entitled thereafter only to qualified privilege in respect of the evidence. They are directed that only evidence connected with the subject matter of these proceedings is to be given and are asked to respect the parliamentary practice to the effect that, where possible, they should not criticise or make charges against any person or entity in such a way as to make them identifiable.

I will now invite the officials to make their opening statements before opening the floor to members for questions and answers.