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

We will now discuss the matter of health insurance. I welcome representatives of the health insurance providers and I apologise to them for the delay. We did not expect to spend so long discussing an EU policy directive on tobacco. I hope they understand it was an important issue and we had to seek clarification on it. I welcome Mr. John O'Dwyer and Mr. Declan Moran from VHI, Mr. Dónal Clancy and Mr. Christian Jaggy from Laya Healthcare, Mr. John Armstrong and Mr. Brian Dunne from Aviva Health Insurance Ireland, and Mr Jim Dowdall and Ms Teresa Kelly Oroz from GloHealth. We are discussing the issue of private health insurance, an issue that concerns not just the minds of the committee but the members of the witnesses' companies. It is an important issue, as discussed in October, and we will keep it on our agenda as we move towards universal health insurance.

By virtue of section 17(2)(l) of the Defamation Act 2009, witnesses are protected by absolute privilege in respect of the evidence you are to give this committee. If you are directed by the committee to cease giving evidence in relation to a particular matter and you 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 nor make charges against any person, persons or entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable. Members are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that members should not comment on, criticise or make charges against a person outside the House or an official by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable. I invite Mr. O'Dwyer to make his opening remarks.