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

I welcome everybody to the meeting, in which we will discuss organ donation. It is the first of two meetings on the issue. Briefing papers from the Department of Health and a research paper from the Oireachtas Library and Research Service have been circulated to members.

I wish to express my gratitude to the service for its excellent work.

This morning we will hear personal and advocacy perspectives on organ donation, particularly from those with a personal experience of donation and advocacy groups representing those affected by organ donation. I welcome each witness here today and apologise for the earlier hold up; we had some private business to attend to. I thank the witnesses for coming this morning and making time to join our discussion on the first of two meetings.

Before we commence, I asked members and those in the gallery to ensure their mobile phones are completely turned off as they interfere with the broadcasting equipment, even when switched to silent, which is unfair to the staff and affects the transmission of our proceedings.

By virtue of section 17(2)(l) of the Defamation Act 2009, witnesses are protected by absolute privilege in respect of the evidence they give to the committee. If they are directed by it to cease giving evidence on a particular matter and continue to so do, they are entitled thereafter only to qualified privilege in respect of their evidence. 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 or persons or an entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable. The submissions made to the committee and opening statements will be published on its website after the meeting. Members are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that they should not comment on, criticise or make charges against a person outside the Houses or an official by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.

We will have the presentations by the advocacy groups first followed by questions and answers. I will take questions and answers in groups of three. I welcome Ms Phyllis Cunningham, senior transplant co-ordinator from the National Organ Procurement Service and invite her to make her opening remarks.