Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The purpose of this meeting is to engage with officials from the Department of Health and representatives of the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland, PSI, on Deputy Gino Kenny's Private Members' Cannabis for Medicinal Use Regulation Bill 2016. On behalf of the committee, I welcome Mr. Eugene Lennon, principal officer, and Ms Maria Egan, pharmacist, at the medicines and controlled drugs unit in the Department; Mr. Niall Byrne, registrar and chief officer of the PSI; and Dr. Cora Nestor, head of pharmacy practice development at the PSI.

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 the committee to cease giving evidence on a particular matter and they continue to do so, they are entitled thereafter only to qualified privilege in respect of their evidence. Witnesses 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 an entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable. I advise witnesses that any submission or opening statement they make to the committee may be published on the committee 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 Mr. Eugene Lennon to make his opening statement.