Chairman:

I welcome Dr. Aileen Murtagh, who is a child and adolescent consultant psychiatrist with St. Patrick's Mental Health Services. She is accompanied by Ms Carol McCormack, who is a clinical nurse manager with St. Patrick’s Mental Health Services. Mr. Michael Walsh and Ms Sonia Magaharan, both of whom are clinical nurse specialists working in child and adolescent mental health services, are also in attendance. I am delighted they are here today. I thank them for taking the time to come to this meeting of the joint committee. I thank Mr. Walsh and Ms Magaharan, in particular, for travelling to Dublin from Cork and Wexford, respectively. The witnesses will be invited to make a brief opening statement, which will be followed by a question-and-answer session.

Before we begin, I would like to draw the attention of witnesses to the situation in relation to privilege. I ask them to note that they are protected by absolute privilege in respect of the evidence they are to give 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. They 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. I remind members and witnesses to turn off their mobile phones because such devices cause havoc here. Mobile phones interfere with the sound system and make it difficult for the parliamentary reporters to report the meeting. They can also have an adverse effect on television coverage and web streaming. I wish to advise the witnesses that any submissions or opening statements they have provided to the committee will be published on the committee's website after this meeting. I invite each of the witnesses to make an opening statement, beginning with a representative of St. Patrick's Mental Health Services.