Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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I welcome four organisations that will make presentations to the committee on the matter of managing back to school costs. I apologise to the guests that we are somewhat delayed but there were important matters of correspondence and EU scrutiny proposals to address at the beginning of the meeting. We have with us Barnardos, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, the National Parents Council Primary and the National Parents Council Post-Primary.

I draw attention to the fact that by virtue of section 17(2)(l) of the Defamation Act 2009, witnesses are protected by absolute privilege in respect of their evidence to this committee. If they are directed by the committee to cease giving evidence on a particular matter and they continue to do so, they are entitled thereafter only to qualified privilege in respect of their evidence. Only evidence connected with the subject matter of these proceedings is to be given and witnesses are asked to respect the parliamentary practice to the effect that, where possible, 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. We will publish their opening statements on our website after today's meeting. Members are similarly reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice to which I have just referred.

I will take speakers in the order in which I listed the groups and invite Mr. Fergus Finlay to make his opening remarks on behalf of Barnardos.