Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
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Apologies have been received from Deputy O'Shea and Senator Ní Chuilinn. I am delighted to welcome everyone to the third public meeting of the joint committee on drug use to discuss kinship care and care. I welcome the witnesses, with whom we will engage later in the meeting. I will introduce them as I call them to speak. Our engagement is on the topic of kinship care and we will follow on with any other business for members.

I will read 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 from 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 place 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 they confirm they are on the grounds of the Leinster House campus.

I welcome all our witnesses to continue our engagement on kinship care and care. It is timely that we are holding this session during kinship care week, which is taking place between 6 October and 12 October. It is a national celebration of the incredible families who step in to care for children when parents cannot.

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 I hope this will allow for plenty of time for questions and answers. I am aware that a wide range of issues will be subject to discussion today. If necessary, further and more detailed information on certain issues raised can be sent to the clerk to the committee for circulation to members. The witnesses are very welcome. Members will come in and out at various times as, unfortunately, sometimes we all have to be in two or three different places at once.

The first contributor is Mr. Wayne Stanley, who will give his opening statement on behalf of Empowering People in Care, EPIC. He is very welcome.