Michael Harty (Clare, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The purpose of the meeting is to engage with officials from the Department of Health and representatives of the HSE and the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland, RCPI regarding uptake levels of vaccines, a subject which is topical. On behalf of the committee, I welcome Dr. Colette Bonner, deputy Chief Medical Officer, Department of Health; from the HSE, Dr. Kevin Kelleher, assistant national director for public and child health, and Dr. Brenda Corcoran, consultant in public health medicine, national immunisation office, NIO; and, from the RCPI, Professor Mary Horgan, president designate and consultant specialist in infectious diseases, Cork University Hospital; Dr. Karina Butler, chairman and consultant paediatrician and paediatric infectious diseases specialist of the national immunisation advisory committee, NIAC; and Dr. Donal Brennan.

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 now call Dr. Bonner to make her opening statement.