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

I apologise to the witnesses and guests for the delay and thank them for their patience and co-operation. On behalf of the joint committee, I congratulate our new Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Deputy Charles Flanagan, and wish him every success. We look forward to working with him. I pay tribute to the former Minister, Deputy Fitzgerald, who was the first person to occupy the full Cabinet position as Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, and wish her well in her new post as Minister for Justice and Equality. She made a very positive contribution to the area of children and youth affairs and in her engagement with this committee over the past three years. I hope members will join me in offering them our congratulations. The Secretary General of the Department of Children and Youth Affairs, Mr. Jim Breslin, will be busy.
Today's meeting will deal with EU scrutiny and events taking place across the Oireachtas to mark Europe week. Under the terms of the European Union (Scrutiny) Act 2002, Ministers submit reports to the Oireachtas every six months on developments at European Union level in their areas of responsibility. We will be examining the departmental six monthly EU scrutiny reports for January to June 2013 and July to December 2013 with the Secretaries General of the Departments of Health and Children and Youth Affairs. The reports summarise the key legislative and policy developments that took place during the periods in question. I thank our EU policy clerk, Ms Fiona Cashin, for her assistance in organising today's meeting.
I welcome Dr. Ambrose McLoughlin, Secretary General of the Department of Health; Mr. Jim Breslin, Secretary General of the Department of Children and Youth Affairs; and Ms Audrey Hagerty, Mr. Eugene Lennon, Ms Doreen Burke and Mr. Alan Savage from the Departments of Health and Children and Youth Affairs. 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 on 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 today's proceedings is to be given and they are asked to respect the parliamentary practice to the effect that, where possible, they should not criticise nor make charges against any person 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 to the effect that members should not comment on, criticise or make charges against a person outside the House or an official by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.
I invite Dr. McLoughlin to make his opening remarks.