Pauline Tully (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Apologies have been received from Deputy Phelan. The purpose of today's meeting is to discuss aligning disability services with the UN Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities, UNCRPD, in consideration of autism and intellectual disability. On behalf of the committee, I would like to extend a warm welcome to Mr. Tom McLoughlin, to Ms Gillian Kearns and Ms Marja-Kristina Akinsha of Autistic Paddies and to Ms Jean Mullan and Mr. David Doyle and to Mr. Adam Harris, CEO of AsIAm.

I must remind members that they are only allowed to participate in this meeting if they are physically located in the Leinster House complex. If members are joining this meeting remotely, I ask them to confirm they are on the grounds of the Leinster House campus prior to making a contribution to the meeting. For anyone watching this meeting online, the witnesses are accessing the meeting remotely. Due to these unprecedented circumstances I ask that everyone bear with us should any technical issues arise.

Before we commence formal proceedings I must begin with some formalities and advise our witnesses on the matter of privilege. You are directed that only evidence connected with the subject matter of these proceedings is to be given. You are asked to respect the parliamentary practice to the effect that where possible you 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. I wish to advise the witnesses giving evidence from a location outside of the parliamentary precincts to note that the constitutional protections afforded to witnesses attending to give evidence before committees may not extend to them. No clear guidance can be given on whether, or the extent to which the evidence given is covered by absolute privilege of a statutory nature. Persons giving evidence from another jurisdiction should also be mindful of its domestic statutory regime. If you are directed by the committee to cease giving evidence in relation to a particular matter, you must respect that direction.

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.

I now call Mr. Tom McLoughlin to make his opening remarks.