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

I welcome everyone to our second session on the challenge of rising costs of professional medical indemnity insurance. At our meeting on Thursday last we heard evidence from a number of representatives of the medical profession and insurance bodies on the rising cost of premia. Today we will deal with issues arising from that discussion, including legal costs and the patient perspective of medical negligence. Apologies have been received from Senator Imelda Henry and Deputies Robert Dowds, Eamonn Maloney and Mary Mitchell O'Connor.

I welcome Mr. Michael Boylan, chairperson, and Ms Deirdre Courtney, member, from the Medical Injuries Alliance; Mr. Kevin O’Higgins, president; Mr. Ernest Cantillon and Mr. Ken Murphy who is in the Visitors Gallery from the Law Society of Ireland; and Mr. David Barniville, chairman, and Ms Ciara Murphy, director, from the Bar Council of Ireland. I also welcome the large group of people present in the Visitors Gallery.

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 joint committee. However, if they are directed by it to cease giving evidence on a particular matter and continue to so do, they will be entitled thereafter only to qualified privilege in respect of their evidence. They are directed that only evidence connected with the subject matter of these proceedings is to be given and asked to respect the parliamentary practice to the effect that, where possible, they should not criticise or make charges against a person or an entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable.

Members are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that they should not comment on, criticise or make charges against a person outside the Houses or an official, either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.

I ask members and delegates to be conscious of the fact that we have a great deal of work to get through. Delegates will have six minutes in which to make their opening remarks and I would prefer if members confined themselves to asking questions. I call Mr. Boylan to make his opening remarks.