Ciara Conway (Waterford, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I must acknowledge many people are absent today given what is going on throughout the country. Many people are still at count centres and I apologise for the vacant seats. Apologies have been received from the Chairman, Deputy Jerry Buttimer, and from Deputies Peter Fitzpatrick, Mary Mitchell O'Connor and Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin.

I remind members, witnesses and those in the Public Gallery that mobile phones should be switched off completely for the duration of the meeting. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss with the Irish Medical Organisation its Help us to Help More campaign, which is designed to highlight the important role played by general practice in delivering health care. According to the IMO, every year more than 22 million clinical consultations take place between GPs and patients, making general practice the most frequently consulted part of the health system. Among the issues the campaign is trying to promote are a fivefold increase in the portion of the health budget spent on general practice with a corresponding plan for increased patient services, a commitment to ensuring the preservation of a community-based same day appointment service for general practice, and an agreed strategy for the development of general practice in the coming decade with a particular focus on extending the range of services provided through general practice.

I welcome Dr. Ray Walley, vice president and chair of the GP committee of the IMO; Dr. Illona Duffy, a member of the IMO GP committee; and Ms Vanessa Hetherington, assistant director of policy and international affairs. Witnesses are protected by absolute privilege in respect of their evidence to this committee. However, 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 qualified privilege in respect of their evidence. Witnesses are further 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 to the effect that they should not comment on, criticise or make charges against a person outside the Houses or an official, either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.

I invite Dr. Ray Walley to make his opening statement.