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

I remind everybody present that mobile phones should be switched off for the duration of the meeting as they interfere with the broadcasting of our proceedings. I welcome viewers who are watching on UPC channel 207 and those who are watching live on the Oireachtas website.

Today's meeting is our final committee meeting of the Dáil session. I welcome Mr. Denis McKenna who has joined us from the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Transport and Communications. I wish him a very successful tenure with us. I thank the members who have made the effort to come today. Apologies have been received from Deputies Conway, Maloney, Dowds, Mitchell O'Connor and Healy.

The purpose of our meeting is to discuss the ongoing investigation by the HSE into section 38 and section 39 organisations, which are funded partly by the State and the impact on the provision of services. I welcome from the HSE, Ms Laverne McGuinness, chief operations officer and deputy director general; Mr. Barry O'Brien, national director of human resources; Ms Paula Lawler, assistant national director of human resources; and Ms Patricia McCormack, general manager of the national business support unit non-statutory services in the national social care division. I also welcome Mr. Ray Mitchell, our parliamentary affairs liaison with the HSE. I thank Mr. Mitchell for his work and partnership with us during the Dáil session.

A background briefing document and the HSE opening statement have been circulated to members. As soon as the committee secretariat received them, they were sent on to members of the committee.

Witnesses are protected by absolute privilege in respect of the evidence they are to give this committee. If you are directed by the committee to cease giving evidence in relation to a particular matter and you continue to so do, you are entitled thereafter only to a qualified privilege in respect of your evidence. You are directed that only evidence connected with the subject matter of these proceedings is to be given and you are asked to respect the parliamentary practice to the effect that, where possible, you should not criticise or make charges against any persons or entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable. Members are reminded of a long-standing parliamentary practice and ruling of the Chair to the effect that Members should not comment on, criticise or make charges against a person outside the House, or any official by name in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.