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

We will resume the second part of the meeting. I remind members, witnesses and guests in the Public Gallery to turn off their mobile phones for the duration of the meeting. This is the third and final hearing on organ donations in Ireland. We will examine the policy perspective with officials from the Department of Health, the HSE and the Irish Medicines Board, IMB. I welcome Ms Mary Jackson, Professor Jim Egan, Dr. Siobhán O'Sullivan and Dr. Patrick Costello.

Before I commence I remind witnesses about the rules on privilege. Witnesses are protected by absolute privilege in respect of their evidence to the committee. However, if a witness is directed by the committee to cease giving evidence in regard to a particular matter and continues to do so, the witness is entitled thereafter only to a qualified privilege in respect of his evidence. Witnesses are directed that only evidence connected with the subject matter of these proceedings is to be given and are asked to respect the parliamentary practice that, where possible, they should not criticise or 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 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 offer apologies on behalf of Deputies Kelleher, O'Caoláin and Mitchell O'Connor and Senator Colm Burke who have to attend other meetings. Sometimes on the graveyard shift in committees, members have other commitments they cannot get out of. Nevertheless, I thank the officials for attending. This is an important issue and I call on Ms Mary Jackson to make the opening remarks.