Pauline O'Reilly (Green Party)
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We are now in session one. On behalf of the committee, I welcome the witnesses from the National Council for the Blind in Ireland: Mr. Aaron Mullaniff, chief services officer; Ms Toni O'Dwyer, manager of children and young persons service; and Ms Edel Doherty , senior practitioner, children and young persons service. The witnesses are here today to discuss the education needs of visually impaired and hard-of-hearing students. The Council of Irish Sign Language Interpreters was invited to the meeting but cannot attend due to conflicting work demands. The council submitted a written submission and an education policy paper published by the Irish Deaf Society. Both documents will be available on the Oireachtas website after the meeting today. I will invite Mr. Mullaniff to make a brief opening statement. This will be followed by questions from members. Due to time constraints, each member has a five-minute slot to ask questions and to include witnesses' responses. As the witnesses are probably aware, the committee will publish the opening statement on the website following the meeting.

I remind members 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.

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 might be regarded as damaging to the good name of the person or entity. Therefore, if witnesses' statements are potentially defamatory in relation to an identifiable person or entity, they will be directed to discontinue their remarks. It is imperative that they comply with any such direction.