Micheál Carrigy (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome all of our witnesses to our meeting here today. We are joined by Davida Hartman, clinical director, The Adult Autism Practice; Tara O'Donnell, CEO and Jessica Doyle, co-director, Thriving Autistic; Nem Kearns and Cír Doyle, co-founders of Neuro Pride Ireland; and Blessing DaDa, mental health activist. I ask the meeting to note that Blessing has to leave at 12 noon to attend another event, which we will take into consideration. Before we hear from our witnesses, I propose that we publish their opening statements and submissions on the committee's website. Is that agreed? Agreed.

The remit of the joint committee is to consider matters relating to services and supports provided by the State for autistic persons. The committee has considered a broad range of important topics concerning both autistic children and adults alike and at our meeting today we look forward to considering access to assessments and services for adults in greater depth. We are interested in learning more about how we can better support autistic people, who can be sometimes overlooked in the formation of policy, particularly in the case of women and girls. The Adult Autism Practice is interested in the diagnosis of autism while Thriving Autistic provides support to autistic persons. Neuro Pride Ireland are a neuro-divergent-led community that celebrates the neurodivergent community people and its culture. Blessing DaDa centres her medical health advocacy around intersectionality. The committee values our witnesses expertise in the areas of autism and the approach they take to empowering autistic people.

I call Ms Hartman to make her opening statement..