Patrick Costello (Dublin South Central, Green Party)
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Apologies have been received from Deputies Funchion, Murnane O'Connor and Sherlock, and from Senators Ruane, Ned O'Sullivan and Clonan. Deputy Pauline Tully will substitute for Deputy Funchion. We congratulate Deputy Funchion on her recent election to the European Parliament. The Deputy will do an excellent job. I have no doubt the other members of the committee share this sentiment. The minutes of the public and private meetings of 21 May 2024 were agreed at a private meeting of the committee this afternoon.

The agenda for this afternoon is a discussion with the Minister of State with responsibility for disability, Deputy Anne Rabbitte, on the implementation of the recommendations provided in the report of this committee on assessments of need for children. Joining the Minister of State are Ms Deirdre Comiskey, principal officer with the disability children's services unit, and Mr. Jason Doran, assistant principal officer with the disability children's services unit. They are all very welcome to the meeting.

I will give some background to the meeting. On 14 February 2023, the committee published its Report on the Assessments of Need for Children. Included in this report were 39 recommendations agreed by the committee. Members are hoping to receive an update this afternoon on any progress made in implementing the recommendations. In the event that recommendations cannot be implemented, members would welcome an explanation as to the reason for this decision.

Before we begin, there are a few housekeeping matters to go through. I advise members that the chat function in MS Teams should only be used to make the team on-site aware of technical difficulties or urgent matters that may arise during the meeting and should not be used to make general comments or statements. I remind members of the constitutional requirements 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 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 that any member partaking via Teams would confirm prior to making a contribution that he or she is in the grounds of the Leinster House campus.

In advance of inviting the Minister of State to deliver her opening statement, I advise everyone of the following in relation to parliamentary privilege. The evidence of witnesses physically present or who give evidence from within the parliamentary precinct is protected pursuant both to 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 may be regarded as damaging to the good name of the person or entity. 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. The opening statement will be followed by a question-and-answer session with members. This completes our housekeeping matters. I invite the Minster of State to deliver her opening statement.