Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein)
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We will hear presentations by four agencies involved in the provision of services for immigrants and those seeking asylum, protection or residency in Ireland. We will hear from the Anti-Deportation Agency, the Irish Refugee Council, Doras Luimní and Spiritan Asylum Services Initiative, SPIRASI. We have received correspondence from the Minister of State responsibility for new communities, culture and equality, Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin, who states that after the independent working group has been formally put together and launched, he will come before the committee to give evidence and take questions. I am sure senior officials from relevant Departments and agencies will do likewise. I make it clear that we will have the Minister of State before us in due course, although we had hoped to have him here today.

We have agreed that he will come before us once these steps have been taken.
On behalf of members, I warmly welcome viewers tuning into the meeting on Oireachtas television, a new dedicated parliamentary channel that was launched last month. This will be the first live broadcast of the Joint Committee on Public Oversight and Petitions. With such an important issue on our agenda, we hope all those watching at home will find the discussion and debate informative.
I remind all those present, including members, people in the Visitors Gallery and members of the media that mobile phones and BlackBerry devices must be switched off or switched to flight or safe mode because they interfere with the broadcasting system, even when left in silent mode. I have been guilty of causing interference with the broadcasting system on several occasions.
I welcome Ms Sue Conlan, chief executive officer of the Irish Refugee Council, who will make a presentation on the council, the challenges it faces and its experience in direct provision. She is accompanied by Mr. Stephen Ng'ang'a. I welcome both guests and thank them for forwarding the presentation which has been circulated to members.
By virtue of section 17(2)(l) of the Defamation Act 2009, witnesses are protected by absolute privilege in respect of the evidence the give to the committee. If they are directed by it to cease giving evidence on a particular matter and continue to do so, they are entitled thereafter only to qualified privilege in respect of their evidence. They are directed that only evidence connected with the subject matter of these proceedings is to be given and asked to respect the parliamentary practice to the effect that, where possible, they should not criticise or make charges against any person or an entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable.
I invite Ms Conlan to make her presentation.