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

I remind everyone to ensure his or her mobile phone is turned off for the duration of the matter to ensure there will be no interference with the recording and broadcasting system. I welcome those watching our proceedings online.

On behalf of the committee, I warmly welcome the Minister for Health, Deputy Simon Harris, who is accompanied by the Secretary General of the Department, Mr. Jim Breslin, as well as by Ms Laura Casey and other officials. The purpose of the meeting is to allow the Minister to have an input into the committee's work and outline his views on possible reforms.

The Committee on the Future of Healthcare was established in June 2016 because of a recognition that cross-party political consensus was needed in order to reform the health service. A key objective is to devise a ten-year plan to reform the service. The committee's terms of reference also emphasise the need to establish a universal single tier service in which patients will be treated on the basis of health need rather than ability to pay. A consensus based approach has been adopted to all of our work. In order to help to achieve this, the committee has held a number of workshops in recent months. Since last June we have consulted widely on a range of possible reform options. The committee is working with a team of health policy researchers from the centre for health policy and management in Trinity College Dublin to examine international evidence on universal health care systems. Since our establishment, we have consulted a wide range of people and groups, including national and international health policy experts, a large number of patient organisations and several professional groups.

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 so do, 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. Members are reminded of the long-standing ruling of the Chair 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 again welcome the Minister and invite him to make his opening statement.