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

We resume for our second segment of hearings on end-of-life care. I remind people to turn off their mobile phones off as the sound made by them interferes with the broadcasting of the proceedings and is unfair to staff who have to listen to buzzing in their ears. I thank our witnesses for attending and apologise for the delay to this part of the meeting. We were delayed by a number of votes in the Dáil. I welcome Mr. Kevin O'Dwyer, Dr. Brian Creedon, Dr. Margaret Clifford, Dr. Karen Ryan, Ms Paddie Blaney and Professor Doiminic Ó Brannagáin. They are all very welcome.

I remind witnesses that they are protected by absolute privilege in respect of the evidence they are to give to the committee. However if they are directed by the committee to cease giving evidence on a particular matter and they continue to do so, they are entitled thereafter only to a qualified privilege in respect of their evidence. Witnesses are directed that only evidence connected with the subject matter of these proceedings is to be given.

Members are reminded of a long-standing parliamentary practice or ruling of the Chair to the effect that Members should not comment on, criticise or make charges against a person outside the House, or any official by name in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.

I thank the witnesses for their participation this morning and for their forbearance this afternoon. Mr. Kevin O'Dwyer is here on behalf of the Voluntary Hospices Group and is also CEO of Marymount Hospice in Cork. He does Trojan work in Cork, and I thank him, all his staff and volunteers for what they do in Cork. I invite him to make his opening statement.