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

The subject of the meeting is the recruitment, pay and conditions of non-consultant hospital doctors. This is set against the debate we have had as a committee, culminating with the publication of a joint committee report in July 2012. This year we met on 5 March to discuss the concerns of the committee regarding the non-consultant hospital doctor issue. We have also met representatives of the Irish Medical Organisation and the non-consultant hospital doctor committee to hear concerns. We have met Mr. O'Brien on a quarterly basis, as well as other representatives of the HSE and the Department of Health, and we have discussed recruitment, pay and conditions of non-consultant hospital doctors. Many members of the committee have expressed serious concerns about the issue and we hope today's meeting will bring clarity in that regard.

I welcome the guests and thank them for coming before us today. Before commencing I remind witnesses and members of privilege. Witnesses are protected by absolute privilege in respect of their evidence to the committee. If you are directed by the committee to cease giving evidence in respect of 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 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. Members are reminded of the long-standing 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 in such as way as to make him or her identifiable.

I welcome Ms Clodagh Murray to the Gallery, as she is on a work experience programme in the Houses. Mr. O'Brien can now make his opening remarks.