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

I remind members, witnesses and those in the Visitors Gallery to turn off their mobile telephones so that they do not interfere with the broadcasting of the proceedings and staff. As members and those who are watching at home and online will be aware, we are in public session.

As part of our scrutiny role, the Joint Committee on Health and Children meets with key appointees in the areas of health and children before their appointment. The first part of our meeting this morning is to meet with the chairperson designate of the Health Products Regulatory Authority, HPRA. As members are aware, the HPRA comes into this committee regularly and plays an expanding role in the regulation and monitoring of health products in Ireland. Ms Ann Horan is very welcome to our meeting and I thank her for being here. Ms Horan has been a board member of the authority for the past five years and this is a good opportunity to discuss her views on her future vision for the HPRA.

Witnesses are advised that, by virtue of section 17(2)(l) of the Defamation Act 2009, they are protected by absolute privilege in respect of their evidence to the committee. If they are directed by the committee to cease giving evidence in relation to a particular matter and they continue to do so, they are entitled thereafter only to a qualified privilege in respect of their evidence and they are directed that only evidence connected with the subject matter of these proceedings is to be given. They are asked to respect the parliamentary practice to the effect that, where possible, they should not comment on, criticise or make charges against any person by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable. Members are reminded of the long-standing rule of the Chair that members should not comment on, criticise or make charges against any person or entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable.

I invite Ms Horan to make her opening remarks.