Micheál Carrigy (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome representatives from Family Carers Ireland: Ms Catherine Cox, head of communications and policy; and Ms Clare Duffy, policy and public affairs manager.

The remit of the committee is to consider matters relating to services and supports provided by the State for autistic people but we must also think of carers in the community caring for family members, neighbours or friends. They play a massively important role in our society and are at times undervalued.

Family Carers Ireland, FCI, is a national charity dedicated to supporting Ireland's 500,000 family carers, many of whom provide support to an autistic person. Like other experts who have appeared before the committee, FCI believes in a rights-based approach to the provision of supports that recognises the significant strengths of autistic people and places their voices and those of their families at the heart of any planning or decision-making. We have heard from individual carers at previous meetings and it is important we have an opportunity to hear from the organisation that represents carers throughout the country. I call Ms Cox to make her opening statement.