Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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On behalf of the committee, I welcome the following: Mr. Mark O'Connor, community engagement manager, Inclusion Ireland; Ms Saoirse Brady, head of legal, policy and public affairs, Children's Rights Alliance; Ms Suzanne Connolly, CEO, Barnardos; Mr. Philip Arneill, head of education and innovation, CyberSafeKids; and Mr. Ben Holmes, Youth Advisory Panel Members, and Ms Jane McGarrigle, project officer, Webwise.

The witnesses are here today to brief the committee on school bullying and the impact on mental health, and we have done continual work on this issue for the last number of weeks. The format of the meeting is as follows. I will invite Mr. O'Connor, Ms Brady, Ms Connolly, Mr. Arneill and, finally, Mr. Holmes to contribute. I have agreed to allow Mr. Holmes slightly over three minutes given the very important contribution he has to make on behalf of the youth advisory panel members of Webwise, and the young people affected by school bullying. The statements will be followed by questions from members of the committee, each of whom will have a six-minute slot for questions and then witnesses will respond. Given the limited time available and high attendance by members, I urge members and witnesses to stay within six minutes.

As witnesses are probably aware, the committee will publish the opening statements on its website following the meeting. Before we begin, I remind members 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 of the Oireachtas or an official either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable. As the witnesses are giving evidence remotely from a place outside the parliamentary precincts, and, as such, may not benefit from the same level of immunity from legal proceedings as a witness physically present does, they have already been advised that they may think it appropriate to take legal advice on the matter. They are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice that they should not criticise or make charges against any person or entity by name or in such a way as to make them identifiable or otherwise engage in speech that might be regarded as damaging to the good name of a person or entity. Therefore, if their statements are potentially defamatory to an identifiable person or entity, they will be directed by me to discontinue their remarks. It is imperative that they comply with any such direction.

I invite Mr. Mark O'Connor to make his opening statement for three minutes and I will call the other witnesses individually afterwards.