Jerry Buttimer (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The purpose of today's meeting is to continue our hearings on affordable and high-quality child care provision. I thank the committee rapporteur, Deputy Sandra McLellan, for her work on the issue. The focus of our discussion is the education needs of carers and community child care workers. I welcome Mr. Joe Rynn, manager of Dublin City Childcare Committee; Ms Avril McMonagle, manager of Donegal County Childcare Committee; and Dr. Mary Moloney, chairperson of Pedagogy, Learning and Education, PLÉ. In attendance in the Public Gallery are Mr. Oliver Moloney; Mr. Dermot Leavy, chairperson of Westmeath County Childcare Committee; and Ms Clare Cashman, chairperson of South Tipperary County Childcare Committee. I have received apologies from Deputies Catherine Byrne, Ciara Conway, Seamus Healy and Billy Kelleher and from Senator Jillian van Turnhout. I take this opportunity to extend our sympathies to the Senator on the death of her father-in-law.

This is the final session in a series of discussions on affordable high-quality child care provision, during the course of which we have met representatives from a range of organisations. It has been a wide-ranging discussion. I thank Deputy Robert Troy for his assistance in organising this morning's meeting. City and county child care committees offer a broad and diverse range of services to parents and families. I thank the witnesses for giving of their time to be here today. We appreciate their efforts to juggle timetables to accommodate us.

I wish to advise witnesses 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 the committee. However, if they are directed by the committee to cease giving evidence on a particular matter and they continue to so do, 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 are asked to respect the parliamentary practice to the effect that, where possible, they should not comment on, 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. Members are reminded of the long-standing ruling of the Chair to the effect that they should not comment on, criticise or make charges against a person outside the Houses or any official by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.

Regarding mobile telephones, I remind people that it would be appreciated if they were switched off or put in aeroplane mode. With that, I invite Mr. Joe Rynn to make his opening remarks, to be followed by Ms Avril McMonagle. Mr. Rynn is more than welcome.