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

I wish to remind members, witnesses and those in the public gallery to please ensure that their mobile phones are switched off or are on aeroplane mode so that the recordings of proceedings are not disrupted. Such phones can also interfere with the broadcasting of the programme.

This is our quarterly meeting on health issues. I wish to welcome the Minister for Health, Deputy James Reilly; the Minister of State, Deputy Alex White; Mr. Tony O'Brien, director general of the HSE; Dr. Fergal Lynch, acting deputy Secretary General, Department of Health; Mr. Fergal Goodman, acting assistant secretary, Department of Health; Dr. John Devlin, deputy Chief Medical Officer; Ms Joan Regan, principal officer; and Mr. Séamus Hempenstall and Mr. Paul Howard from the Department of Health. I also wish to welcome the following from the Health Service Executive: Ms Laverne McGuinness, Mr. Pat Healy, Mr. John Hennessey, Dr. Áine Carroll, Mr. Ian Carter, Mr. Stephen Mulvany and Mr. Ray Mitchell.

I have received apologies from the Minister of State, Deputy Kathleen Lynch, who has a family bereavement. Her father-in-law passed away and is being buried this morning. I am sure all members of the committee and others will join with me in offering our condolences to the Minister of State and to Deputy Ciarán Lynch, who is the son of the deceased person. I have also received apologies from Deputy McLellan, who has had to leave to attend another meeting, and from Deputy Robert Troy. Deputy Dowds has also had to absent himself from the meeting.

I apologise to the witnesses for the delay in starting. We had a private discussion on the issue of universal health insurance. It is fair to say that some members of the committee are concerned about being asked to discuss a policy which is perhaps not a matter of unanimity for the committee. We will revert to the Minister on that at a later date.

Before we commence, I must inform witnesses about the question of privilege. Witnesses 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 in relation to a particular matter and they continue to do so, 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 be given, and they are asked to respect the parliamentary practice to the effect that, where possible, they should not comment on, criticise or make charges against any person or persons by name or in such a way as to make him or her 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 wish to remind members that the replies to the questions they submitted are in their information packs. I ask them to refer to the question number when they comment on a question. Question No. 21 is a revised answer to Deputy Robert Troy.

At the conclusion of this meeting, we will be presenting to the Minister our committee's report on its pre-legislative scrutiny of the public health (standardised packaging of tobacco) Bill. Members who wish to attend the photo call are more than welcome to join us on the plinth.

I now call on an tAire to make his opening remarks.