Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Our guests are all very welcome. I hope they have had an opportunity to settle in and find their spaces here. They are all very welcome to Leinster House, including this committee room, where we are really looking forward to hearing from them. We have received apologies from Deputy Cassells. I am delighted to welcome Deputy Ó Snodaigh, who is attending today.

The committee is meeting today in two separate sessions to examine the development of local and community arts.

The first session has been convened being with representatives from Disabled Artists and Disabled Academics, Independent Living Movement Ireland, the National Disability Authority, Arts and Health Coordinators Ireland and Age and Opportunity. We will focus on arts and disability health and older people. In our second session we will continue our examination of this topic, focusing on arts and cultural diversity. We will hear from the Irish Traveller Movement, the Irish Network against Racism Pavee Point and the Centre for Creative Practices.

Are the minutes from the meeting of 4 May agreed? Agreed. I presume there are no matters arising.

As outlined, this session will focus on arts and disability, help and old people. I warmly welcome our guests. I welcome from Disabled Artists and Disabled Academics, Ms Emilie Conway, founder, and Mr. Red Keane, member; from the Independent Living Movement Ireland, Ms Paula Soraghan, voice community development worker, and Mr. Peter Kearns; DPO development officer; from the National Disability Authority, Dr. Aideen Hartney, director; from Arts and Health Coordinators Ireland, Ms Gráinne Hope, chair, and Ms Fiona Smith, deputy chair; and from Age and Opportunity, Dr. Tara Byrne, arts programme manager and Bealtaine Festival artistic director, and Ms Catherine Marshall, chair of the arts advisory committee.

The format of the meeting is such that I will invite our witnesses to deliver their opening statements, which are limited to three minutes each. We will of course will give latitude where it is required. As the witnesses are probably aware, the committee may publish the opening statements on its web page. The opening statements will be followed by questions from committee members.

Before we proceed to opening statements, I must explain some limitations on parliamentary privilege and the practice of the Houses regarding references that witnesses may make to other persons in their evidence. The evidence of witnesses who are physically present or who give evidence from within the parliamentary precincts is protected by absolute privilege pursuant to the Constitution and statute in respect of the presentation they make to the committee. This means witnesses have absolute defence against any defamation action for anything they say at the meeting. However, witnesses are expected not to abuse this privilege. It is my duty, as Chair, to ensure this privilege is not abused. Therefore, if statements are potentially defamatory in relation to an identifiable person or entity, witnesses will be directed to discontinue their remarks.

Members are also reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that they should not comment on, criticise, or make charges against a person outside the Houses or an official either by name or in such a way as to make her or him identifiable. I remind members of the constitutional requirement that members must be physically present within the confines of Leinster House to participate in public meetings. I will not permit a member to attend where he or she is not adhering to the constitutional requirement. Therefore, any members who attempt to attend from outside the precincts will be asked to leave the meeting.

I ask Ms Emilie Conway, on behalf of Disabled Artists and Disabled Academics, to speak first.