Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 26 October 2016

Select Committee on the Future of Healthcare

Health Service Reform: Representatives of Health Sector Workforce

9:00 am

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

We will resume in public session. Is that agreed? Agreed. For the committee's second session we will discuss health service reform and the concerns of a number of organisations presenting to us. It is now the turn of the Irish Medical Organisation, IMO, to present to the committee. I very warmly welcome, Dr. Peadar Gilligan, chair of the IMO's consultant committee, Dr Pádraig McGarry, chair of the IMO's general practice committee and Mr. Cian O'Dowd, policy and international affairs officer of the IMO. They are very welcome and apologies for the delay in getting started.

I advise the witnesses 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. However, 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, persons or entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable. Members are reminded of the long-standing ruling of the Chair to the effect that they should not comment on, criticise or make charges against a person outside the House or an official either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.

I invite Dr. Gilligan to make the first part of the opening statement.

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