Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

I request members, delegates and observers in the Visitors Gallery to ensure their mobile phones are switched off completely because otherwise they can cause many problems for the recording staff. They can also cause interference with recordings.

I welcome everyone to this our third day of public hearings on health care reform. Apologies have been received from Deputy Pat Buckley.

In considering its work programme the committee identified all primary care services as a key work stream. It referenced the need to reorient the health service to put the focus on primary and community care services. The meeting will focus on two aspects of the debate on the role of primary care services in any future health care model. In our first session we will consider some of the issues faced by GPs working in areas experiencing significant disadvantage. We will hear evidence from Dr. Edel McGinnity, Professor Susan Smith, Dr. John Delap and Dr. David Gibney who are representing the group Deep End Ireland, a group of GPs working in disadvantaged areas throughout the country. In our second session we will hear evidence from Dr. Ronan Fawsitt and Professor Garry Courtney who will brief the committee on the Carlow-Kilkenny model of care which has been developed over time and from which we believe we can learn a lot. Both sessions will I hope allow the committee to explore the barriers to developing primary care services which are vital in managing issues such as chronic disease in the community.

I welcome our visitors. We are delighted to have them and I thank them for coming to represent Deep End Ireland.

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 committee. If, however, they are directed by it to cease giving evidence on a particular matter and continue to so do, they are 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 any 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 advise members that the opening statement has been circulated. I invite our visitors to commence their presentation.