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

We are having two sessions today to discuss issues surrounding the recent closure of Mount Carmel Hospital. The second session will be at 3.45 p.m. with the Minister for Health and representatives of the Health Service Executive, HSE. In this session I welcome Mr. Philip McAnenly, industrial relations officer for the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation, INMO, east coast region, and Ms Phil Ní Sheaghdha, director of industrial relations, INMO. I thank them for attending.
We have received apologies from Deputies Sandra McLellan and Robert Dowds and Senator Imelda Henry, who could not be present. I ask members to turn off their mobile telephones or to switch them to flight mode as they interfere with the broadcasting equipment and the broadcasting of the committee's 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 are to give this committee. If they are directed by the committee to cease giving evidence in relation to a particular matter and they continue to so do, they are entitled thereafter only to a 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 are asked to respect the parliamentary practice to the effect 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 and rulings of the Chair to the effect that members should not comment on, criticise or make charges against either a person outside the House or an official by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.
We invited representatives of the National Asset Management Agency, NAMA, to the meeting but, as is clear from the written correspondence, the agency has declined to attend the committee's meeting this afternoon. It has furnished the committee with documents relating to this discussion.
I invite Mr. McAnenly to make his opening remarks.