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

The first session today is with the Minister for Health and his officials. I remind members to turn off their mobile phones as they can interfere with the broadcast of the meeting and it is difficult for staff. Apologies have been received from Deputies Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin, Ciara Conway and Sandra McLellan.

I welcome the Minister for Health, Deputy Leo Varadkar, and his officials from the Department of Health, Ms Deirdre Walsh, principal officer and Mr. Kieran Duffy, assistant principal officer. The item for consideration at this session is the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005 (Section 4(7)) (Membership of Council) Regulations 2015. A briefing note on the regulations and correspondence from interested organisations have been circulated to members. I remind members that this item must be disposed of before 22 October 2015. I will ask the Minister to address the committee, after which each spokesperson can respond and then members can join the discussion. Is that agreed? Agreed. I invite the Minister for Health, Deputy Varadkar, to make his opening statement.