Malcolm Byrne (Wicklow-Wexford, Fianna Fail)

Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. I welcome everyone to the committee. We have received apologies from Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil, who may be able to join us depending on when another committee finishes, and Senator Dee Ryan.

We have been discussing the issue of artificial intelligence through the lens of AI and young people, AI and older people and AI and disability. We began this discussion on 7 October, which was budget day, and we met with the Disability Federation of Ireland, the National Disability Authority and Voice of Vision Impairment. We are delighted to have the DPO Network with us today for the second session on AI and disability. In attendance on behalf of the DPO Network we have: Ms Elaine Grehan, advocacy manager with the Irish Deaf Society; Dr. Michael Seifu, policy officer with Independent Living Movement Ireland; and Mr. John Sherwin, CEO of the Irish Deaf Society and secretary of the DPO Network. I thank the witnesses and welcome them here. I invite Ms Grehan, as the advocacy manager on the behalf of the Irish Deaf Society, to deliver the opening statement on behalf of the DPO Network.