Keira Keogh (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Apologies have been received from Deputies Dempsey and Ward, and Senators Cosgrove and Bradley. The agenda item for consideration this morning is an engagement with Dr. Niall Muldoon, Ombudsman for Children. Accompanying Dr. Muldoon is Ms Nuala Ward, director of investigations and Dr. Tricia Keilthy, head of policy. They are very welcome. The purpose of this meeting is to gain insight into the priority topics and issues facing the Office of the Ombudsman for Children and to discuss the annual report for 2024 entitled Tomorrow Starts With Us, in keeping with the theme for its 20th anniversary as chosen by its youth advisory panel. The report makes for stark reading but it was great to acknowledge that some progress was made. I am really looking forward to the engagement today. We need to treat this report as an action plan for urgent access to address these issues.

As this is Dr. Muldoon's first meeting with the newly established committee, I will take the opportunity to thank him for the work he continuously does both with the children of Ireland and for the manner in which he advocates on their behalf. The service provided by the Office of the Ombudsman for Children is a really invaluable service. This committee is looking forward to working with him closely in the coming years on various matters that impact the children of Ireland and that fall under his office's remit.

Before we begin, I have a few housekeeping matters to go through. I advise all that the chat function on MS Teams should only be used to make the team on site aware of any technical issues or urgent matters that may arise and should not be used to make general comments or statements during the meeting. I remind members of the constitutional requirement that they must be physically present within the confines of the Leinster House complex to participate in public meetings. I will not permit members to participate where they are not adhering to this constitutional requirement. Therefore, any member who attempts to participate from outside the precincts will be asked to leave the meeting. In this regard, I ask any members partaking via MS Teams, prior to making their contribution to the meeting, to confirm they are on the grounds of the Leinster House campus.

In advance of inviting them to deliver their opening statements, I advise the witnesses that they are protected by absolute privilege in respect of the presentation they make to the committee. This means they have an absolute defence against any defamation action for anything they say at the meeting. However, they are expected not to abuse this privilege, and it is my duty as Cathaoirleach to ensure this privilege is not abused. Therefore, if their statements are potentially defamatory in relation to an identifiable person or entity, they will be directed to discontinue their remarks. It is imperative that they comply with any such direction.

Dr. Muldoon will be allocated five minutes to deliver his opening statement, which will be followed by a question and answer session with our members.