Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Good morning, everyone. I am delighted to welcome everyone to the second public meeting of the Joint Committee on Drugs Use to discuss community supports. We have a wide range of guests and experts from across the field and we look forward to hearing their statements and testimony today. The item on the agenda is engagement on community supports.

Before we begin, I have to deliver a note on privilege. All 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 or her identifiable or otherwise engage in speech that might be regarded as damaging to the good name of the person or entity. Therefore, if statements are potentially defamatory in relation to an identifiable person or entity, witnesses and Members will be directed to discontinue their remarks. It is imperative they comply with any such direction.

I remind Members of the constitutional requirement that in order to participate in public meetings, members must be physically present within the confines of the Leinster House complex. Members of the committee attending remotely must do so within the precincts of Leinster House. This is due to the constitutional requirement that in order to participate in public meetings, members must be physically present within the confines of the places where the Parliament has chosen to sit. In this regard, I ask any Member partaking via MS Teams that prior to making their contribution to the meeting that they confirm they are on the grounds of the Leinster House campus.

I welcome all our witnesses to begin engagement on our first module and second hearing in public session on community supports. All the opening statements have been circulated to members of the committee and will be published on the Oireachtas website after the session. As agreed, we will limit each opening statement to five minutes and hopefully this will allow for plenty of questions and answers. I will also say that members have not yet learned the art of bilocation so people will be coming and going as we progress.

I invite Mr. Fearghal Connolly to give his opening statement on behalf of the Donore Community Drug and Alcohol Team. I understand he is sharing his five minutes with Ms Cheryl Kelly. They are very welcome.