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

This meeting has been convened to continue the committee's consideration of the topic of inclusion in sport. I warmly welcome our witnesses to committee room 1.

From the Disabled Persons Organisation, DPO, Network I welcome Mr. Derek Maguire, president of Deaf Sports Ireland, and Dr. John Bosco Conama, who is also from the Irish Deaf Society. Mr. Maguire and Dr. Conama are joined online via Microsoft Teams by Ms Jacqui Browne, chairperson of the Disabled Persons Organisation Network. From Sport Against Racism, I welcome Ms Amina Moustafa, board member, and Mr. Fintan Drury, acting chair. From Sporting Pride Ireland I welcome Mr. Aidan Walsh, chair and national governing body liaison, and Ms Karina Murray, events co-ordinator. From TRUST Ireland, I welcome Ms Sarah Carney, UNESCO chair at Munster Technological University and lead TRUST Ireland partner.

The format of today’s meeting is such that I will invite our witnesses to deliver their opening statements, which are limited to three minutes. As they are probably aware, the committee may publish the opening statements on its webpage. This will then be followed by questions from members of the committee. Is that all agreed, colleagues? Agreed.

Before we proceed to opening statements, I wish to explain some of the limitations in relation to parliamentary privilege and the practice of the Houses as regards references 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 they have absolute defence against any defamation action for anything they may say at the meeting. However, they are expected not to abuse this privilege and it is my duty as Chair to ensure that this privilege is not abused. Therefore, if their statements are potentially defamatory with regard to an identifiable person or entity, witnesses will be directed to discontinue their remarks. Where witnesses give evidence remotely from outside the parliamentary precincts, they may not benefit from the same level of immunity from legal proceeding as a witness physically present does. Such witnesses may think it appropriate to take legal advice on this matter.

I propose that we now proceed to the opening statements in the following order: we will begin with Ms Jacqui Browne on behalf of the Disabled Persons Organisation Network, followed by Ms Amina Moustafa on behalf of Sport Against Racism, Mr. Aidan Walsh on behalf of Sporting Pride Ireland and Ms Sarah Carney on behalf of TRUST Ireland. Without further ado, I invite Ms Browne to make her opening statement.