Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)

Tá fáilte roimh gach duine. Apologies have been received from Deputy Tom Brabazon and Senator Michael McDowell. I remind members and witnesses to turn off their mobile phones or to switch them to flight mode.

The purpose of our meeting is to have an engagement with a number of stakeholders as part of the committee's scrutiny of the general scheme of the children (amendment) Bill 2024. I welcome to the meeting Dr. Ian D. Marder, associate professor in Maynooth University and Ms Saoirse Brady and Ms Niamh McCormack from the Irish Penal Reform Trust. We are delighted to welcome Ms Valerie McAllorum Ryan, who will be giving a personal testimony. We welcome Ms Claire McEvoy and Mr. Seán Egan from the Irish Council for Civil Liberties, Ms Amanda Connolly and Dr. Brian Hunt from the Law Society of Ireland and Dr. Louise Ford, who is representing Brunel University of London. Also here as observers are Ms Marisa Gomez and Ms Susanna Gillespie, officials from the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration who will assist the committee if any clarification is needed on the general scheme. You are all very welcome.

Before I invite opening statements, I need to advise witnesses 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, 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. It is imperative that they comply with any such direction.

I am going to invite each organisation and individual in turn to make an opening statement of a maximum of three minutes. Once all the opening statements have been delivered, I will call on members of the committee in the order in which they indicate to me to put questions. The committee operates a rota system, which will provide each member with an initial seven minutes to engage with the witnesses. That is both for questions and answers and we ask both questioner and respondent to be as succinct as possible. Following that initial round we will allow a second round if time permits.

I ask Dr. Marder to give his opening statement.