Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I remind members and those in the Gallery to ensure that their mobile phones are completely switched off for the duration of the meeting. This is because they cause interference with the recording equipment, even when switched to silent mode. I would appreciate it if people would co-operate, particularly as some interference has been caused by mobile phones at recent meetings.

The main business of the meeting is to discuss the humanitarian work in Syria of Médecins Sans Frontières. I am delighted to welcome Professor Paul McMaster, chairman of Médecins Sans Frontières UK, and Ms Jane-Ann McKenna, head of the Dublin office of Médecins Sans Frontières. Professor McMaster has had a long and distinguished career in medical surgery. He joined Médecins Sans Frontières in 2004. He has undertaken emergency surgical work in disaster and conflict settings across the world. He recently returned from Syria and is here today to talk about his experience in delivering emergency medical assistance there, where conditions must be horrific. Ms McKenna is well known to all of us and she addressed the committee in September last in respect of the situation in the region of South Kordofan and the Blue Nile. Ms McKenna also briefed us on the work in which Médecins Sans Frontierès is involved in Syria.

The committee has taken a particular interest in Syria and members remain determined to do what they can to ensure that the dreadful events there remain in the public eye. We have prioritised matters relating to Syria at our regular sessions with the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade in respect of EU Foreign Affairs Council meetings. We have placed particular emphasis on the need to continue contributing to humanitarian relief efforts. It is disturbing to note that the recent intensification in the conflict in Syria, which has already cost an estimated 40,000 people their lives. The risk of the conflict spilling over Syria's borders and leading to neighbouring states being drawn into it remains very high. This makes it all the more essential that political progress be made, especially in consolidating the unity of the opposition groups in Syria. However, the prospects remain somewhat bleak at this stage and it is difficult to be optimistic. Above all else, this conflict is a terrible human tragedy for the world and for the region in general. In the absence of political progress being made, the humanitarian response becomes even more important. We wish to focus our deliberations today on the humanitarian situation in Syria, where Professor McMaster recently spent five weeks attending to the wounded. He has, therefore, visited the front line in a number of areas in Syria.

Before I ask Professor McMaster and Ms McKenna to make their presentations, I wish to advise them that they are protected by absolute privilege in respect of any utterances they make before this committee. If, however, they are directed to cease making remarks on a particular matter and they continue to so do, they will be entitled thereafter only to a qualified privilege in respect of their remarks.

They are directed that only evidence connected with the subject matter of these proceedings is to be given and asked to respect the parliamentary practice to the effect that, where possible, they should not criticise or make charges against a person, persons or an entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable.

I call on Ms McKenna to make the introduction and Dr. McMaster will follow.