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

We are in public session. Apologies have been received from Deputies Funchion, Cairns, Murnane O'Connor and Brady and Senators Seery Kearney and Clonan. The item for consideration is engagement with the chairperson-designate of Oberstown Children's Detention Campus. At this session, we are joined by Ms Koulla Yiasouma, who has been nominated by the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Deputy Roderic O'Gorman, to the position of chairperson-designate. Following engagement with the committee, she will soon take up the position. Ms Yiasouma is very welcome to the meeting.

I will deal with a few housekeeping matters before we begin. I advise everyone that the chat function on Microsoft Teams should only be used to make the team on-site aware of any technical issues or urgent matters that may arise during the meeting and should not be used to make general comments or statements. I remind members of the constitutional requirement 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 this constitutional requirement. Any member, therefore, who attempts to participate from outside the precincts will be asked to leave the meeting. In this regard, and prior to making a contribution, I ask any member participating via Microsoft Teams to confirm he or she is on the grounds of the Leinster House complex.

In advance of Ms Yiasouma making her opening statement, I wish to advise her of the following concerning parliamentary privilege. I draw her attention to the fact that witnesses 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 statements are potentially defamatory in relation to an identifiable person or entity, witnesses will be directed to discontinue their remarks. It is imperative they comply with any such direction. This completes the housekeeping matters.

I invite Ms Yiasouma to deliver her opening statement.