Kathleen Funchion (Carlow-Kilkenny, Sinn Fein)
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We have apologies from Deputies Costello and Phelan and Senators O'Sullivan and Ruane. Senator McGreehan is listening in to the meeting. Deputy O'Reilly is substituting for Deputy Ward.

The purpose of the meeting is pre-Committee Stage detailed scrutiny of the Organisation of Working Time (Domestic Violence Leave) Bill 2020. It is a Private Members' Bill and its sponsors are Deputies McDonald and O'Reilly. Joining us today are Ms Sarah Benson, chief executive of Women's Aid; Ms Allison Graham, chief executive of Saoirse Domestic Violence Services; Ms Marie Mulholland, chief executive of West Cork Women Against Violence; and Ms Julie Mernagh, head of people development and operations, and Ms Aoife Mulqueen, talent and development partner of Vodafone. They are welcome and I offer apologies for the slight delay due to the Dáil vote.

We invited representatives of Men's Aid to the meeting but, unfortunately, due to other commitments, they were not in a position to attend and sent their sincere apologies.

In relation to Covid-19, we ask people to exercise personal responsibility and to be respectful of the physical space of others. People are advised to adhere to any other public health advice.

For anyone joining us through MS Teams, the chat function is only to be used to make the team on site aware of any technical issues or urgent matters that may arise and is not to be used to make general comments or statements or have a general discussion during the meeting.

On parliamentary privilege, witnesses participating from the committee room are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect 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 might be regarded as damaging to the good name of a person or entity. If a witness's statements are potentially defamatory in relation to an identifiable person or entity, the witness will be directed to discontinue his or her remarks. It is imperative witnesses comply with any such direction.

I remind members of the constitutional requirement that members must be physically present within the confines of the Leinster House complex in order to participate in public meetings. I will not permit a member to participate where he or she is not adhering to that constitutional requirement. Any member who attempts to participate from outside the precincts will be asked to leave the meeting. I ask any member participating via MS Teams to confirm, prior to making a contribution, that he or she is on the grounds of the Leinster House campus.

I will call witnesses in the following order: Ms Benson, then Ms Graham, Ms Mulholland and, finally, Ms Mernagh. They each have five minutes for opening statements and then we have a speaking rota whereby members will ask questions. I welcome the witnesses and thank them for being with us.