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

I remind members, witnesses and those in the public gallery to ensure their mobile telephones are switched off or in flight mode as they interfere with the broadcasting of this meeting and are unfair to members of staff. I welcome in particular viewers who are watching this meeting live this morning on Oireachtas TV on UPC and a variety of Sky platforms, as well as on the Oireachtas app and live online. They are all welcome this morning and I thank them for their presence. This is the second part of the joint committee's meeting this morning. We had a good discussion earlier and I thank members for their participation in the discussion on stillbirth. I again pay tribute to and thank the witnesses who appeared before the joint committee.

I welcome to this meeting the Minister for Health, Deputy Varadkar, Mr. Michael Smith and Dr. Tony Holohan, chief medical officer, from the Department of Health; and Dr. Darina O'Flanagan and Mr. Gavin Maguire from the Health Service Executive, HSE. This meeting will deal with one issue only, namely, that of the Ebola virus. As members are aware, our quarterly meeting with the Minister for Health will be held next Thursday and I reiterate the only issue on the joint committee's agenda today is that of Ebola. I thank the Minister and the chief medical officer for agreeing to the committee's request of last week and thank Senator Crown for proposing the motion last Thursday. The joint committee will hear today from the Minister and the chief medical officer in respect of Ebola.

I remind witnesses they are protected by absolute privilege in respect of the evidence they are to give to the committee. However, if the witness is directed by the committee to cease giving evidence in respect of a particular matter and the witness continues to do so, the witness is entitled thereafter only to a qualified privilege in respect of evidence. Moreover, 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 comment on, criticise or make charges against any person or entity by name in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable. Members are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice or ruling of the Chair to the effect that members should not comment on, criticise or make charges against any person outside the House or an official either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.

For the information of members and those watching from home, Mr. Michael Smith is from the health promotion unit of the Department of Health, Dr. Darina O'Flanagan is the director of the Health Protection Surveillance Centre in the HSE, Mr. Gavin Maguire is the assistant national director of emergency planning in the HSE, Dr. Tony Holohan is the chief medical officer in the Department of Health and Deputy Leo Varadkar is the Minister for Health. I invite the Minister to make his opening remarks.