Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)

We have received no apologies in advance of today's meeting. I welcome everyone joining us in person or watching the proceedings of the meeting.

I ask anyone attending remotely to mute themselves when not contributing in order that we do not pick up any background noise or feedback. As usual, I remind all those in attendance to ensure that their mobile phones are on silent mode or switched off entirely.

Members attending remotely are reminded of the constitutional requirement that, in order to participate in public meetings, they must be physically present within the confines of the Leinster House complex.

The witnesses are all very welcome. As they are within the precincts of Leinster House, they are protected by absolute privilege in respect of the presentation they make to this committee. This means they have an absolute defence against any defamation action for anything they may say at the meeting. However, they are expected not to abuse this privilege, and it is my duty as Cathaoirleach to ensure that 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, and it is imperative that they comply with any such direction.

Members are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice that they should not comment on, criticise or make charges against a person or entity outside of the Houses or an official of the Houses either by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable.

On the agenda for today's meeting is the implementation of the national youth strategy, entitled Opportunities for Youth: National Strategy for Youth Work and Related Services 2024-2028. I welcome the following witnesses who have joined us: Dr. Patrick J. Burke, chief executive officer of Youth Work Ireland; Ms Sinéad Keane, chief executive officer of Spunout; and Ms Mary Cunningham, outgoing chief executive officer of the National Youth Council of Ireland.

Mr. Mick Curran, the newly appointed chief executive officer, is with us today as an observer. I wish him well in his new role, and I wish Ms Cunningham very well in the future and congratulate her on steering the National Youth Council of Ireland so proficiently over the last two and a half decades. We also have Ms Amy Carey, chief executive officer of Solas Project, Ms Rachael Murphy, director of support services with Foróige. You are all very welcome. I welcome Mr. Yuming Lian, a sixth year student from Belvedere College in Dublin 1, who is here in the Visitors Gallery. Yuming gave evidence to the previous committee on youth participation in climate action education. We are delighted to have him here as well.

I now call on the witnesses to make their opening statements in the following order: Dr. Burke, followed by Ms Keane, Ms Cunningham, Ms Carey and finally Ms Murphy. They will have five minutes each. The opening statements will be followed by questions from members of the committee. Each member will have a six minute speaking slot to ask questions and for the witnesses to respond.

Witnesses have five minutes each. If a statement is particularly long, we have a mechanism by which the remainder of it can be read into the record. It becomes part of the body of our work, and we will proceed on to the next speaker. We begin with Dr. Burke.