Keira Keogh (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The agenda item for consideration this morning is engagement with Children's Rights Alliance. The purpose of this meeting is to provide insight into the priority topics and issues of the Children's Rights Alliance which are relevant to the remit of this committee. Representing Children's Rights Alliance are Dr. Naomi Feely, who is policy director, and Dr. Maria Corbett, who is child protection and alternative care project co-ordinator. They are very welcome to this meeting. It was lovely to meet their CEO, Tanya Ward, at the launch this week of the report from the Community Law and Mediation Centre on meeting the legal needs of children and young people in Ireland and enhancing access to justice. It was very informative and we hope we will meet her again soon.

Before we begin, I have a few housekeeping matters to go through. I advise all that the chat function on MS Teams should only be used to make the team on site aware of any technical issues or urgent matters that may arise and should not be used to make general comments or statements during the meeting. I remind members of the constitutional requirement that members 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 they are 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 any members partaking via MS Teams that, prior to making their contribution to the meeting, they confirm they are on the grounds of the Leinster House campus.

To our witnesses, in advance of inviting them to deliver their opening statements, I advise them of the following in relation to parliamentary privilege. They are protected by absolute privilege in respect of the presentation they make to the committee. This means they have an absolute defence against any defamation action for anything they say at the meeting. However, they are expected not to abuse this privilege, and it is my duty as Cathaoirleach to ensure this privilege is not abused. 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.

Dr. Feely and Dr. Corbett will be allocated five minutes total speaking time to deliver their opening statements. I kindly ask that they adhere to the five minutes. The opening statements will be followed by a question and answer session with our members. I now invite them to deliver their opening statements.