Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour) | Oireachtas source

Today, we will examine the 2015 and 2016 financial statements of the Health Service Executive. First, however, we will deal with the clarification from Mr. Tony O'Brien relating to evidence given to the committee on the "Grace" case. We agreed yesterday to keep this part of the meeting to an hour and we must be mindful that a commission of investigation has been established and we should allow it to do its work. We have given Mr. O'Brien the opportunity to provide any further clarification after his last appearance on this topic and to provide a response to questions forwarded by the committee following its meeting in private with the whistleblower in the Grace case, along with any other related questions. We can provide a transcript of this meeting and any further information to the commission in due course with the agreement of the committee, and I am sure that will not be an issue.

I welcome Mr. Tony O'Brien, director general of the HSE, and thank him for attending today. He is accompanied by Mr. Ray Mitchell from the parliamentary affairs section and Mr. Dara Purcell from the office of the director general for this first session. I remind members, witnesses and those in the Gallery that all mobile phones must be switched off. I advise the witnesses that 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 of the committee are reminded of the provisions of Standing Order 186 that the committee shall refrain from inquiring into the merits of a policy or policies of the Government or a Minister of the Government or the objectives of such policies.

Finally, members are reminded of the longstanding ruling of the Chair 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.

Mr. O'Brien, would you like to make some opening comments or go directly to clarifying questions from the members?