Barry Ward (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Apologies have been received from Deputy Ward and Senator McDowell. I remind members to turn off their mobile phones in order that they do not interfere with the sound system or make it difficult for the parliamentary reporters to report the meeting.

The first item on our agenda is pre-legislative scrutiny of the general scheme of the Irish Prison Service Bill. The purpose of the first part of the meeting is to engage with stakeholders as part of the committee’s scrutiny on the general scheme of the Bill. The second part of the meeting will be an engagement with stakeholders on the second item, namely, scrutiny of the general scheme of the criminal justice (legal aid) Bill.

I am chairing the meeting in the absence of the Cathaoirleach. Before I introduce the stakeholders present, I wish to declare an interest as I am a member of the Irish Penal Reform Trust and have been engaged on a professional basis on behalf of the Irish Prison Service. I do not have a pecuniary interest in either but I wish to make that known.

I welcome the witnesses: Ms Saoirse Brady, executive director of the Irish Penal Reform Trust, IPRT; Dr. Helen Kehoe, legal and public affairs manager of the IPRT; Mr. Karl Dalton, general secretary of the Prison Officers Association, POA; and Mr. Gabriel Keaveney of the POA. From the Department of Justice we are joined by Mr. Paul O’Farrell, principal officer in criminal legislation, and Mr. Gerard Teehan, administrative officer. They are all very welcome. I thank them for taking the time to join us.

Before I invite the witnesses to make their opening statements, I wish to advise them of the following with regard to parliamentary privilege. Witnesses and members 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 their statements are potentially defamatory in respect of an identifiable person or entity, they will be directed to discontinue their remarks. It is imperative that they comply with any such direction.

I invite each of the organisations, in turn, to make an opening statement, starting with Ms Brady of the IPRT.