Martin Browne (Tipperary, Sinn Fein)
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This is our sixth public meeting about direct provision policy and related matters. We have already met the Ombudsman, the Ombudsman for Children, the Irish Refugee Council, the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission, the Law Society of Ireland and the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. I am delighted to extend a warm welcome to our witnesses today from the Department of Justice, Ms Oonagh Buckley, deputy secretary general, and Mr. David Delaney, chief international protection officer.

Before we hear from our witnesses, I propose we publish their opening statement and submissions on the committee's website. Is that agreed? Agreed. I suggest the witnesses should make their opening statement for around ten minutes. We will then have a question and answer session. We will give each member around five minutes, which should allow members to come back in for a second round of questions if they wish. I invite Ms Oonagh Buckley, deputy secretary general at the Department of Justice, to make her opening statement.