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

I remind everybody in the room to ensure that their mobile phones are either off or on airplane mode and to be mindful of the difficulties caused for the sound recording staff when the phones interfere with the sound. I also warmly welcome all those watching the live streaming of this committee meeting this morning.

For this session we are joined by Professor Tom Keane. We are here to discuss the national cancer strategy as a guide for implementing health care reform. I think the programme is generally seen as one of the most successful examples of reform in the Irish health service in recent years. I warmly welcome Professor Keane to our committee meeting. Before I ask him to give his opening statement, I have a few formalities to go through.

I wish to advise the witnesses that by virtue of section 17(2)(l) of the Defamation Act 2009, witnesses are protected by absolute privilege in respect of their evidence to this committee. If they are directed by the committee to cease giving evidence on a particular matter and they continue to so do, they are entitled thereafter only to a 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 they are asked to respect the parliamentary practice to the effect that, where possible, they should not criticise or make charges against any person or entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable. Finally, members are reminded of the long-standing ruling of the Chair to the effect that members should not comment on, criticise or make charges against a person outside the House or an official by name in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.

I thank Professor Keane for joining us this morning. We look forward to hearing his statement.