Patrick Costello (Dublin South Central, Green Party)
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Deputy Gannon is substituting for Deputy Cairns this week. I welcome him to the committee. Apologies have been received from Deputies Funchion and Sherlock and Senator McGreehan. The agenda for consideration this afternoon is engagement with stakeholders regarding integration and refugee issues.

From Nasc, we are joined by Mr. Brian Collins, advocacy service manager. From the Migrant Rights Centre Ireland, MRCI, we are joined by Ms Edel McGinley, director, and Mr. Neil Bruton, campaigns co-ordinator. From the Irish Refugee Council, IRC, we have Mr. Nick Henderson, chief executive officer, and Ms Wendy Muperi, communications officer. With us from the Cultúr Migrants Centre, CMC, are Mr. Reuben Hambakachere, community development worker, and Mr. Archibald Mathibela, project officer. They are all very welcome.

Before we start, I will go through some normal housekeeping matters. I advise everyone that the chat function on MS Teams should only be used to make the team on site aware of technical issues or urgent matters that may arise and not to make general statements or comments during the meeting. I remind members of the constitutional requirement that they 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 who is not adhering to this constitutional requirement. Therefore, any member who attempts to participate from outside the precincts will be asked to leave the meeting. In this regard, I ask members partaking via MS Teams, prior to making their contributions, to confirm they are on the grounds of the Leinster House campus.

In advance of inviting our guests to deliver their opening statements, I wish to advise them of the following in respect of 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 the person or entity. Therefore, if their statements are potentially defamatory of an identifiable person or entity, they will be directed to discontinue their remarks. It is imperative that they comply with any such direction. For our witnesses appearing before us virtually, I must point out that there is uncertainty over whether parliamentary privilege applies to evidence given from a location outside the parliamentary precincts of Leinster House. If they are directed to cease giving evidence regarding a particular matter, therefore, it is imperative they comply with any such direction.

Five minutes speaking time will be allocated for each opening statement. We will then go to questions and answers with members. This completes our housekeeping. I invite Mr. Collins to deliver his opening statement.