Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 15 November 2017

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution

Business of Joint Committee

1:30 pm

Photo of Catherine NooneCatherine Noone (Fine Gael)
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The draft minutes for the meeting of 8 November 2017 have been circulated. Are they agreed? Agreed. We have received three items of correspondence, all of which are noted. I propose that we suspend to allow the witnesses to take their seats.

Sitting suspended at 1.37 p.m. and resumed at 1.39 p.m..

Photo of Catherine NooneCatherine Noone (Fine Gael)
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I welcome members and the people watching these proceedings on Oireachtas TV. The committee is holding two sessions today, first, with representatives of the Irish Family Planning Association and, later this afternoon, with representatives from the HSE sexual health and crisis pregnancy programme. Before we commence, at the request of the broadcasting unit, members and visitors in the Gallery are requested to ensure that their mobile phones or switched off or on flight mode.

We have seen over the past few weeks that sometimes telephones cause interference, which creates a difficulty for the staff and, indeed, television and radio programmes if they wish to use coverage. I hope that members will be mindful of the matter.

On behalf of the committee, I extend a warm welcome to the witnesses who will present in the first part of this afternoon's meeting, Dr. Caitriona Henchion, medical director, Irish Family Planning Association, and Mr. Niall Behan, chief executive officer, Irish Family Planning Association. They are both very welcome.

Before we commence formal proceedings, I must advise witnesses on the matter of privilege. 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 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, persons or entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable.

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 House or an official either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.

I call Dr. Henchion to make her presentation.