Cathaoirleach an tSeanaid:

I welcome everybody to Leinster House and thank them for being here. I thank the Cathaoirleach and the members of the Joint Committee on Autism for the work they have done since March of last year. The import of this meeting being held in this Chamber should not be lost on anybody. It is a rare occasion that we have a committee sitting in Seanad Éireann. As a Member of the House and a public representative, I must say that this committee's work is critical for a future roadmap and recommendations that will be made to the Government, which we hope will then act. As someone with a long connection with the Cope Foundation in Cork, I understand the importance of matching intervention with diagnosis and assessment. It is also important that we support and work with all our guests to ensure we put in place not just a scaffolding of supporting structures but real supports. This meeting is important and we are happy to have it in the Chamber. I thank the members of the committee for being here and for their work. I thank the committee Cathaoirleach, Senator Carrigy, the clerk to the committee and the staff and secretariat of the House. I will hand over to the committee Cathaoirleach, Seanadóir Carrigy.