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

I welcome our viewers who are watching this meeting live on the UPC network and on the Internet. I also welcome all the people in the Visitors Gallery and Ms Caroline Sloan, Ms Yvonne Moynihan, Dr. Michael Byrne, Professor Jonathan Hourihane, Mr. Pat O'Mahony, and Ms Lorraine Nolan to our meeting today.
I remind members, witnesses and those in the Visitors Gallery that all mobile telephones should be switched off for the duration of this meeting and should be in airplane mode rather than on silent because they interfere with the broadcasting of proceedings and it is unfair to staff to have buzzing noises in their headsets.
Our meeting this evening has been convened to discuss EpiPens which are used for the treatment of allergic reactions. Severe allergic reactions can have devastating consequences for those affected and immediate access to medication can be a life-saving intervention. Today we are conscious that Ms Sloan, whose daughter Emma tragically died, is with us. We offer our sympathies to her and thank her for being here and for her courage, not just in coming here but in campaigning since Emma's death. We know it is not easy to be here but we appreciate her presence
Professor Jonathan Hourihane and Dr. Michael Byrne from University College Cork, UCC, have been very strong advocates and campaigners in this area. We are also joined by Mr Pat O'Mahony and Ms Lorraine Nolan from the Irish Medicines Board, IMB. They are very welcome this afternoon. I apologise to Deputy Ó Caoláin because this meeting unfortunately clashes with his business dealing with a Bill in the Dáil.
The purpose of our meeting is to promote awareness of the campaign run by our witnesses and to ensure that the like of the tragedy which has occurred may never happen again. I am aware that circumstances surrounding Emma's tragic death are now the subject of an inquiry by a statutory body and that this committee needs to exercise caution and should not enter into a discussion regarding these events as we do not wish to prejudice the outcome of that inquiry. This is an important meeting and I thank the many people in the Visitors Gallery for showing their support for our witnesses.
I wish to advise the witnesses that by virtue of section 17(2)(l) of the Defamation Act 2009, witnesses are protected by absolute privilege in respect of their evidence to the committee. However, if a witness is directed by the committee to cease giving evidence in regard to a particular matter and continues to do so, the witness is entitled thereafter only to a qualified privilege in respect of his or her evidence. Witnesses 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 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 ruling of the Chair 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 invite Mrs Sloan to make her opening remarks.