Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

We have received apologies from Deputy Kelly and Senators Ruane, McDowell and Gallagher. Senator Curley is attending in substitution for Senator Gallagher. I remind members to turn off their mobile phones or switch them to flight mode because they can interfere with the sound system and make life difficult for parliamentary reporters.

The purpose of our meeting today is to have an engagement with a number of stakeholders as part of the committee's scrutiny of the general scheme of the criminal law and civil law (miscellaneous provisions) Bill 2025. As has been noted by a number of members, including some who have corresponded with the committee, the remit of this legislation is quite extensive. It is proving difficult for this committee to deal with so many disparate measures in one item of justice legislation. I apologise to all of those who have a sincere interest in this legislation or in particular aspects of it. I note that the Public Gallery is full today and that a number of campaigners have a particular with head 19, which deals with the issue of counselling notes, a matter of keen public interest. We are joined today by Deputy Coppinger, who has brought forward stand-alone legislation in this regard. I am sure we would agree that whatever anybody's position on this, the issue itself merits separate legislation to allow committees like this to be able to deal with it properly.

Notwithstanding any of that, I welcome all of our guests to the meeting. From the Irish Penal Reform Trust we are joined by Ms Saoirse Brady and Ms Niamh McCormack. We are also joined by Ms Hazel Behan, campaigner; Dr. Susan Leahy, associate professor in law and director of the centre for crime, justice and victim studies in University of Limerick; Ms Deirdre Kenny, CEO of One in Four Ireland; Ms Aoife O'Leary, chair of the criminal state bar committee of the Bar of Ireland, and Mr. Michael Hourigan, chair of the professional practices committee of the Bar of Ireland; Mr. Liam Herrick, chief commissioner of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, who is accompanied by the assistant principal, Ms Maria Mullan; and Ms Angela Denning the CEO of the Courts Service and Mr. Owen Harrison, the chief information officer. Also attending as observers are officials from the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, who will assist the committee if any clarifications on the general scheme are required. I ask members who have any issues of that nature to leave them until after we have interacted with our other guests. The officials from the Department are Mr. Paul O'Farrell, Ms Marisa Gomez and Ms Rosaleen Killian and they are very welcome.

Before I invite our guests to make their opening statements, I must advise everyone in relation to parliamentary privilege. Witnesses and members are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice that they should not criticise or make charges against any person or entity either 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 relation to an identifiable person or entity, they will be directed to discontinue their remarks and it is imperative that they comply with any such direction.

I will invite each organisation in turn to make an opening statement and would ask everyone to try to remain within the three-minute limit. Once all of the opening statements have been delivered, I will then call on members to put their questions. We will start with Ms Saoirse Brady from the Irish Penal Reform Trust.