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

I remind members, witnesses and people in the Visitors Gallery to ensure their mobile telephones are switched off for the duration of the meeting as they interfere with the broadcasting of the proceedings.

I welcome to our meeting members of the campaign to improve services for teenagers who suffer from an acquired brain injury. I welcome Mr. Paul Devlin, Mr. Conor Devlin, Mrs. Catriona Devlin and Dr. Sarah O'Doherty. I sincerely thank them for being here. I thank Deputy Lowry who made the request that they appear before the committee. I also thank the Minister of State, Deputy Hayes, for being here. Apologies have been received from Deputy Noel Coonan who cannot be here today. It is important that we understand that Dr. O'Doherty will make her presentation in an advisory capacity and she is not part of any campaign but she is here in her own right and is working very hard to improve services for teenagers who suffer from an acquired brain injuries. The witnesses are very welcome to the meeting. I also welcome Deputy Fitzpatrick to the meeting. We extended our sympathy to him on the death of his mother at our meeting last Tuesday and I thank him for being here this morning. Apologies have been received from Deputy Regina Doherty, Deputy Dowds, who had to leave to attend the Committee of Public Accounts, Deputy Moloney, Senator Henry and the Vice Chairman, Deputy Conway.