Kathleen Funchion (Carlow-Kilkenny, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

We do not have any official apologies. Today, we will deal with a motion on the referral to joint committee of proposed approval by Dáil Éireann of Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2022 (Section 9 (2)) (Amount of Financial Contribution) Order 2022. I welcome the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Deputy O'Gorman. We will then have a general discussion on the situation in Ukraine. The Minister is joined by his officials, Mr. Aidan Madden, principal officer, Ms Sheenagh Rooney, assistant secretary, Mr. John Lohan, principal officer, Mr. Paul Fay, principal officer and Mr. Tom Talbot, principal officer. They are all very welcome to the meeting.

I will go through the normal housekeeping matters. I advise anyone who is contributing via Microsoft Teams that the chat function is only to make us aware of any technical issues or urgent matters and is not to be used to make general comments or statements. I remind members of the constitutional requirements that they must be physically present within the confines of the Leinster House complex in order to participate in public meetings. I will not permit a member to participate where he or she is not adhering to that constitutional requirement. If any member attempts to participate from outside the precincts, he or she will be asked to leave the meeting. In this regard, I ask any member who is participating via Microsoft Teams to confirm that he or she is on the Leinster House campus before making his or her contribution.

On parliamentary privilege, witnesses who are participating from the committee room are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that they should not comment on, criticise or make charges against any person or entity either by name or in such a way as to make him, her it identifiable or otherwise engage in speech that might be regarded as damaging to the good name of the person or entity. Therefore, if their statements are potentially defamatory with regard to an identifiable person or entity, they will be directed to discontinue their remarks. It is imperative that they comply with any such direction. The opening statement will be followed by a decision on agreement of the motion and then a discussion on the refugee accommodation crisis. I invite the Minister to deliver his opening statement.