Michael Harty (Clare, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The purpose of the meeting is to engage in pre-legislative scrutiny of the open disclosure provisions contained in the Civil Liability (Amendment) Bill 2015 with representatives from the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation, the Irish Medical Organisation, the Irish Hospital Consultants Association, the Irish Patients Association and the State Claims Agency.

On behalf of the joint committee, I welcome from the INMO Ms Martina Harkin-Kelly, president, and Mr. Edward Mathews, director of regulation and social policy; from the IMO Dr. John Duddy, president, and Ms Vanessa Hetherington, assistant director of policy and international affairs; and from the IHCA Mr. Martin Varley, secretary general, and Dr. Tom Ryan, president.

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. However, if they are directed by it to cease giving evidence on a particular matter and continue to do so, 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. I advise that any opening statement or other material submitted to the committee may be published on its website after the meeting.

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 ask Ms Harkin-Kelly to make her opening statement.