Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I will first outline the position on privilege. By virtue of section 17(2)(l) of the Defamation Act 2009, witnesses are protected by absolute privilege in respect of the evidence they are to give this committee. 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 a 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 they are asked to respect the parliamentary practice to the effect that, where possible, they should not criticise or make charges against any person(s) or entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable. The opening statements of witnesses will be published on the committee's website after the meeting. Members are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that they should not comment on, criticise or make charges against a person outside the Houses or an official either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.

At the request of the broadcasting and recording services, witnesses and people in the Visitors Gallery are asked to ensure that their mobile telephones are turned off or switched to flight mode for the duration of the meeting.

Today's meeting will discuss the school meals programme. The programme aims to provide regular, nutritious food to children who are unable, through lack of good food, to take full advantage of the education provided for them. It also seeks to encourage school attendance and extra educational achievement by children, particularly those from the most disadvantaged backgrounds. The programme is operated by the Department of Social Protection by providing funding through two schemes, the statutory urban school meals scheme for primary schools and the non-statutory school meals local project scheme. To discuss the programme I am pleased to welcome Ms Sinéad Keenan, representing Healthy Food for All, Mr. Pádraig McCabe and Mr. David Ruddy, representing the Irish Primary Principals Network, IPPN, and Ms Helen Faughnan, Ms Jackie Harrington and Mr. Declan Kerr, representing the Department of Social Protection. I ask the speakers to keep their presentations to five minutes. They can take their submissions as read if they are obliged to omit parts of them.