Kathleen Funchion (Carlow-Kilkenny, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Apologies have been received from Deputy Sherlock and Senator O'Sullivan.

Deputy Coveney has been appointed to the committee; we welcome him on board.

I will read into the public record that all minutes of public and private meetings, previously agreed to date at private meetings, are considered the agreed minutes of meetings.

Our agenda item for consideration today is a review of the Barnahus model for young people who have experienced child sex abuse. We are joined, from the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, by Mr. Des Delaney, principal officer, chief social worker and chair of the interdepartmental group on Barnahus implementation, and Ms Ciara Doyle, assistant principal officer, social work specialist and project lead for the interdepartmental group on Barnahus implementation; from Tusla, by Ms Kate Duggan, chief executive, Mr. Gerard Brophy, chief social worker, and Ms Clare Murphy, interim national director of services and integration; from the HSE, by Ms Helen Shortt, lead Barnahus model implementation; from Children's Health Ireland, by Ms Fiona Murphy, acting chief executive, and Mr. Stephen Flanagan, deputy chief executive; and from An Garda Síochána, by assistant commissioner Mr. Justin Kelly, organised and serious crime, and detective chief superintendent Mr. Colm Noonan from the Garda National Protective Services Bureau. They are all very welcome. I thank them very much for joining us.

I will go through the normal housekeeping matters and the statement on parliamentary privilege. For anyone joining us remotely, the chat function on Microsoft Teams should only be used to make us aware of any urgent matters or technical issues. It should not be used to make general comments or statements. I remind our 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 where he or she 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 that regard, I ask anyone who is joining us online via Microsoft Teams to confirm they are on the grounds of the Leinster House campus.

In advance of inviting witnesses to deliver their opening statements, I advise them all of the following in relation to parliamentary privilege. The evidence of witnesses physically present or who give evidence from within the parliamentary precincts is protected, pursuant to both the Constitution and statute, by absolute privilege. Witnesses and members 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 their 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.

We will have a number of opening statements. I will go through the order and then call on members for questions. Mr. Delaney will start, followed by Ms Duggan, Ms Shortt and Assistant Commissioner Kelly.