Kathleen Funchion (Carlow-Kilkenny, Sinn Fein)
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If members or witnesses participating remotely are experiencing any sound or technical issues, I ask them to let us know through the chat function. Apologies have been received from Senator O'Sullivan.

Before we begin, I remind members who are participating remotely to keep their devices on mute until they are invited to speak. When they are speaking, I would ask that, where possible, they have their cameras switched on and be mindful that we are in public session. In addition, I remind members of the constitutional requirement that they must be physically present within the confines of the place where the Parliament has chosen to sit, namely, Leinster House, in order to participate in public meetings. I cannot permit a member to participate where he or she is not adhering to this constitutional requirement. Therefore, any member who attempts to participate in this meeting from outside the precincts will be refused.

I advise members that Deputy Cairns was having IT difficulties and the IT department was contacted. Therefore, Deputy Cairns is in the committee room to take part in the meeting because it was not able to resolve the IT issue for her to participate remotely.