Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Apologies have been received from Deputy Canney.

Today the committee is meeting a range of stakeholders, disabled persons organisations and self-advocates to discuss the role of DPOs and self-advocacy to provide equal opportunities under the UN CRPD implementation. I welcome all the witnesses who are extremely welcome to Leinster House. I apologise for having to change the venue at such short notice; we were only informed late on Friday.

This is an important day for the Committee on Disability Matters. We are here to listen, and to hear the suggestions and issues the witnesses want to raise. We will have many speakers throughout the day. Today we will have one member responding to each question. It will be really about the evidence that the self-advocates and DPOs will be giving rather than the committee.

I thank all the members of the committee for making themselves available on a Monday, which is difficult with the schedules and everything else. I appreciate very much that they are here in such numbers early on a Monday morning. Our team worked right throughout the weekend, in terms of reorganising, up to almost 12 o'clock on Saturday night and all day yesterday. I thank them sincerely for facilitating this meeting. It was a huge amount of work that we did. All of those who have made themselves available today are most welcome to the meeting.

I will read out the note on privilege. All witnesses are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice that they should not comment on, criticise or make charges against a person or entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable or otherwise engage in speech that would be regarded as damaging to the good name of a person or entity. Therefore, if their statements are potentially defamatory in nature in respect of an identifiable person or entity and they are directed to discontinue their remarks, it is imperative that they do so. Of course, the members are reminded of the selfsame parliamentary privilege and practice.

On behalf of the committee, I will welcome each of the groups individually. When we change over to the next group, we will welcome them as well, if that is okay with everybody. In the first session, we have: Ms Gillian Kearns and Cír Doyle from Neuro Pride Ireland; Ms Jacqui Browne and Ms Lianne Quigley from the DPO Network; Dr. Robert Sinnott and Ms Mena Fitzpatrick from Voice of Vision Impairment; and Dr. James Casey and Mr. Peter Kearns from Independent Living Movement Ireland. They are all very welcome.

I will start by asking Cír Doyle to make the opening remarks.