Jerry Buttimer (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I welcome everyone. Our meeting this morning will be divided into two parts. The first part will be a discussion to coincide with World Prematurity Day. I welcome members of the Irish Premature Babies organisation, in particular Ms Mandy Daly, Dr. John Murphy and Ms Hilda Wall. Members will be aware that last Saturday marked international World Prematurity Day. Almost 5,000 babies are born premature in Ireland every year, equating to one premature baby born every two hours. Premature births are defined as those of less than 37 weeks' gestation, and the most vulnerable of these children in terms of survival are those born at less than 28 weeks' gestation or more than three months early. As someone who was born ten weeks premature and who weighed in at 2 lbs 11 oz, I am glad to say I survived and I am here. I welcome our guests this morning.

Witnesses are protected by absolute privilege in respect of their evidence to the committee. However, if you are directed by the committee to cease giving evidence in respect of a particular matter and continue to so do, you are entitled thereafter only to a qualified privilege in respect of your evidence. You are directed that only evidence connected with the subject matter of these proceedings is to be given and you are asked to respect the parliamentary practice to the effect that, where possible, you should not criticise or make charges against a person or persons by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable. Members are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice or ruling of the Chair to the effect that they should not comment on, criticise or make charges against a person outside the House or an official either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.

I pay tribute to Ms Mandy Daly for the outstanding work she has done in promulgation and advocacy and I compliment her on it. By coincidence, Dr. Murphy and Ms Daly are both from Cork which gives them an extra benefit at this morning's meeting. I call on Dr. Murphy to begin.