Patrick Costello (Dublin South Central, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I need to go through some housekeeping matters. I apologise that another committee meeting is happening at the same time and I also need to attend that. I will chair this meeting for a bit. I will get a nod through the window here. I will need to run away to the other committee and I hope to come back. If I get up and walk out, it is not down to anything the witness might have said. I apologise in advance for any interruption.

Deputy Whitmore will be standing in for Deputy Cairns this week. We have received apologies from Deputy Funchion and Senator Seery Kearney who cannot make it today.

We are here to have an engagement with stakeholders on youth work. We are joined from FamiliBase by Mr. Brendan Cummins, youth work project leader; and Ms Fiona Kearney, interim CEO; from SOLAS by Ms Leanne Lowry, youth programme manager; and Ms Amy Carey, CEO; from Connect 4 by Mr. Paul Perth, team leader; and Ms Grace Hill, Tallaght Drug & Alcohol Task Force co-ordinator; from Bluebell Youth Project by Mr. Gerard Roe, youth worker; from Crosscare by Ms Sinéad Harris, manager Ronanstown youth service; and Mr. Greg Tierney, youth work manager; from St. John Bosco Youth Centre by Mr. Stephen Sharpe, project leader; and Ms Emily Boyne, youth worker; and from St. Ultan’s Cherry Orchard by Mr. John Scanlon, finance, services and campus manager; and Ms Susan Menton, integration adviser. They are all very welcome. If I have anyone's names or titles wrong, please shout.

I advise everyone that the chat function on Microsoft Teams should only be used to make the team on site aware of technical issues or urgent matters that may arise and not to make general comments during the meeting. I remind members of the constitutional requirement that they must be physically present in the Leinster House complex in order to participate in public meetings. I cannot let a member who is not adhering to this constitutional requirement speak. Therefore, any member who attempts to participate from outside will be asked to leave the meeting. I ask members partaking via Microsoft Teams, before they speak to let us know they are in Leinster House. We do not have anyone on Microsoft Teams at the moment.

In advance of inviting our guests to deliver their opening statements, I wish to advise them of the following in respect of parliamentary privilege. Witnesses participating from the committee room are reminded 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 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 in relation to an identifiable person or entity, they will be directed to discontinue their remarks. It is imperative that they comply with any such direction.

Witnesses will be allocated three minutes' speaking time. The opening statement will be followed by questions and answers with the members of the committee. That completes the announcement of housekeeping matters. I now call Ms Kearney from FamiliBase.