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

For the committee's second session this morning, we are meeting representatives from the four remaining hospital groups, all of whom are welcome. They include Ms Mary Day, CEO, and Mr. Kevin O'Malley, group clinical director, Ireland East hospital group; Dr. Susan O'Reilly, CEO, and Dr. Martin Feeley, group clinical director, Dublin Midlands hospital group; Mr. Gerald O'Callaghan, chief operations officer, and Dr. Orla Healy, director of quality, governance and patient safety, South-South West hospital group; and Ms Eilísh Hardiman, CEO, and Dr. Ciara Martin, clinical director, of the Children's hospital group. Mr. Liam Woods is with us still.

In terms of formalities, 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. I remind members 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 or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable. I invite Ms Mary Day to make her opening statement.