Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Thursday, 2 February 2017

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health

Primary Care Services: Discussion

9:00 am

Photo of Michael HartyMichael Harty (Clare, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The purpose of the meeting is to discuss primary care services, with particular reference to GP manpower and capacity issues in a properly functioning primary care service. On behalf of the joint committee, I welcome Dr. Pádraig McGarry and Dr. Austin Byrne from the Irish Medical Organisation; Dr. Karena Hanley and Dr. Brendan O'Shea from the Irish College of General Practitioners, and Dr. Emmet Kerin and Dr. Liam Glynn from the National Association of General Practitioners who will provide us with their perspectives on key elements of general practice.

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. Any submission or opening statement 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 House or an official either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.

Before we engage with the witnesses I wish to declare the following interests for the public record. I am a contract holder with the Health Service Executive, HSE, to deliver general medical services to medical card patients. I am a registered general practitioner with the Medical Council of Ireland and I am an ordinary member of my representative organisations, the Irish College of General Practitioners, the Irish Medical Organisation and the National Association of General Practitioners.

I now invite the witnesses to make their statements, beginning with the National Association of General Practitioners, NAGP.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.