James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

We almost have a full house. Everybody is very welcome. It is great to have so many witnesses before the committee in person. Good afternoon to members of the committee. Apologies have been received from Senator Ruane. As there are now a number of ways in which members can partake in proceedings, some may drop in and out over the course of the meeting and others will participate online.

I ask both witnesses and members to switch their mobile phones to flight mode because they may interfere with the recording even if they do not appear to do so at the time. The purpose of our meeting today is to have an engagement on the general scheme of the criminal justice (sexual offences and human trafficking) Bill 2022. We are joined by Dr. Salome Mbugua, commission member, and Dr. Nusha Yonkova, head of anti-trafficking, from the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, IHREC; Dr. Clíona Saidléar, director of the Rape Crisis Network Ireland, RCNI; Professor Michael Healy, vice president of research, and Professor Michael Breen, professor emeritus, from Mary Immaculate College; Mr. Brian Killoran, CEO, and Ms Mary Henderson, solicitor, from the Immigrant Council of Ireland, ICI; and Ms Edel McGinley, executive director, and Ms Isabel Toolan, anti-trafficking lead, from the Migrant Rights Centre Ireland, MRCI. They are all very welcome.

We also have some observers present. Representatives of the Department of Justice participate in our meetings regularly, although today they will do so in more than just an observer capacity as they will partake in the meeting, and they are very welcome to do so. We have Ms Lisa Doherty, principal officer in the criminal justice legislation unit, and Mr. Deaglán Ó Briain, principal officer, criminal justice policy. They are both welcome to the committee.

I have some housekeeping to do before we get into the business proper. We are late starting today's meeting because a vote was called in the Dáil Chamber at about 2.45 p.m. That often happens and there are knock-on effects for the committee. I apologise for that. We are taking live testimony and this is what happens in these Houses from time to time.

Our witnesses are probably familiar with our rules on privilege. However, I remind them of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that they should not criticise or make charges against any person or entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable, or to engage otherwise in speech that might be regarded as damaging to the good name of the person or entity. Therefore, if their statements are potentially defamatory in respect of an identifiable person or entity, they may be directed to discontinue these remarks and I ask them to comply with such a direction if it is given.

The way we conduct our business is to invite each organisation to make a brief opening statement. They will have three minutes in which to make these statements, which is a short period and it passes relatively quickly, but there will be plenty of time set aside over the course of the meeting for a detailed question-and-answer session with the members. What works best is if each group provides a short statement and we then allow members in to engage. Once we have heard from witnesses, the first round will be open to members who will have seven minutes to make their contribution. They can use this time for questions and answers, to make points, or in whatever way they see fit. The seven minutes will consist of a to-and-fro and we will then go around the table again on a round-robin basis with seven minutes per member. If witnesses do not get to reply to a question, we find that by the time the questions are asked by the following speakers, the topics tend to be common and we generally get through all the points. We can also arrange a second and third round of questions, particularly if witnesses or members have points that they have not had the opportunity to make.

The order in which I will call speakers is IHREC first, to be followed by the RCNI, Mary Immaculate College, the ICI and the MRCI.

I invite Dr. Mbugua to make her opening statement on behalf of IHREC.