Jennifer Whitmore (Wicklow, Social Democrats)
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As this is the first public meeting of the committee, I take this opportunity to welcome all the members, as well as our witnesses. The committee has been asked to examine the topic of international surrogacy and to make recommendations in this very important area. As a committee, we have discussed and agreed our work programme and I look forward to working with all the members and witnesses in the weeks ahead.

The purpose of today's meeting is to discuss the current position of surrogacy in Ireland and in Irish and international law. We will have two sessions today.

On behalf of the committee, I welcome from the Department of Justice, Mr. Andrew Munro and Ms Tracy O'Keeffe. From the Department of Health, I welcome Mr. Muiris O'Connor, Mr. Niall Redmond and Mr. Colm McGennis. From the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, I welcome Ms Laura McGarrigle, Mr. Karl Duff and Mr. Cormac Grundy. The witnesses are all welcome to the meeting.

Before we begin, I have a note on privilege and some housekeeping matters. Witnesses 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 him, her or it identifiable, or otherwise engage in speech that may be regarded as damaging to the good name of the person or entity. Therefore, if their statements are potentially defamatory in relation to an identifiable person or entity, they will be directed to discontinue their remarks. It is imperative they comply with any such request. For witnesses attending remotely from outside the Leinster House campus, there are some limitations to parliamentary privilege and, as such, they may not benefit from the same level of immunity from legal proceedings as a witness who is physically present does.

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 remind members of the constitutional requirement that they must be physically present within the confines of the Leinster House complex to participate in public meetings. I will not permit a member to participate where he or she is not adhering to this constitutional requirement. Therefore, any member who attempts to participate from outside the precincts of Leinster House will be asked to leave the meeting. In this regard, I ask any member participating via MS Teams to confirm, prior to making his or her contribution, that he or she is on the grounds of the Leinster House campus. I remind everyone that masks should continue to be worn throughout the meeting by all present and should only be removed while speaking.

I call Ms O'Keeffe to make her opening statement.