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

As members are aware, the general scheme of the public health (standardised packaging of tobacco) Bill 2013 was referred to the joint committee for consideration before Christmas. Before the Christmas recess, the Minister, Deputy Reilly, and the Chief Medical Officer made a presentation to the joint committee by way of introduction to this important legislation. Last week, we heard from representatives of the Revenue Commissioners, the Garda Síochána and the Health Service Executive concerning issues surrounding counterfeiting, smuggling and enforcement. Following on from that, today's meeting is the third in our series of meetings that will convene in the coming weeks to consider the heads of the Bill. We will hear today about the potential effects of legislation on public health policy. In that regard we will have before us representatives of a number of non-governmental organisations and also people affected by smoking. I will not name all the witnesses now but I will welcome them individually when they are invited to speak. I thank them for their participation in this morning's meeting.

Witnesses are protected by absolute privilege in respect of the evidence they give to the committee. However, if they are directed by the committee to cease giving evidence on a particular matter and continue to do so, 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 an entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable. I remind members of the long-standing rule of the Chair 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.

I should have apologised at the outset for Deputy Ó Caoláin, who cannot be here, and for Senator van Turnhout and Deputies Mary Mitchell O'Connor and Ciara Conway, who are attending the launch this morning of the Child Family Support Agency. Deputies Eamonn Maloney and Catherine Byrne and Senator Imelda Henry send apologies also. I call former Senator Kathleen O'Meara who is head of advocacy and communications for the Irish Cancer Society. I ask Ms O'Meara to make her opening statement.