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

I thank everyone for attending. The committee will reflect on the testimony given. It is important that we work collaboratively in order to ensure the concerns of the parents who represent a significant body of people are listened to and that the scientific and medical evidence is taken on board. It is beyond the committee's remit to make any decision on recommendations on what can and cannot be done in the vaccination and immunisation programme.

I hope everybody feels he or she had a fair and balanced hearing. It has been a very informative meeting on both sides of the debate. All of us in the room are concerned about public health. The parents are concerned about their daughters’ lives, health and well-being. As legislators, we are concerned about public health and the committee will make a recommendation on how it will proceed. If Dr. Gilvarry, Dr. Connolly and Dr. Kelleher have opening statements, will they give them to us in order that we can circulate them to members?

On Wednesday the committee will meet representatives of the HSE to discuss the issue of medical cards. On Tuesday the select committee will meet to discuss the Supplementary Estimate for the Department of Health.