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

I thank members for their attendance at the second part of this meeting, which follows on from a previous meeting of the joint committee on the issue of Lyme disease. I welcome to the meeting Dr. Colette Bonner, deputy chief medical officer and head of the health protection unit in the Department of Health, Dr. Darina O'Flanagan, director of the health protection surveillance centre in the Department of Health, Dr. Paul McKeown, specialist in public health medicine at the health protection surveillance centre in the Department of Health, and Dr. Bartley Cryan, consultant microbiologist at Cork University Hospital. I also welcome the Lyme disease patient advocates and supporters in the Visitors Gallery and thank them for their presence. Apologies have been received from Deputy Ó Caoláin who must attend another meeting. Deputy McLellan, who is a member of the committee in her own right, will be an able stand-in. Apologies also have been received from Seanad Members who have been obliged to go to a vote.

At the outset, I remind people to ensure their mobile telephones are switched off or are in aeroplane mode as otherwise they interfere with the broadcasting of proceedings and cause difficulties for staff. Were people to do that, I would be most appreciative. I remind people about privilege that witnesses are protected by absolute privilege in respect of the evidence they are to give to the committee. However, if a witness is directed by the committee to cease giving evidence in respect of a particular matter and the witness continues to do so, they are entitled thereafter only to a qualified privilege in respect of evidence. Witnesses are directed that only evidence connected with the subject matter of these proceedings is to be given and they 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 or her 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.

I reiterate that our second session today pertains to the microbiology of Lyme disease and I again thank the witnesses for their attendance. I invite Dr. Bonner to make her opening remarks.