Paul Coghlan (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We are back in public session and will resume our public hearing on children's mental health services in Ireland. In the afternoon session, we will hear from representatives of State and official bodies. On behalf of the committee, I welcome from the Office of the Ombudsman for Children Dr. Niall Muldoon, Ombudsman, and Ms Naomi Kennan, policy adviser. From the Department of Health, we have the recently appointed Minister of State with special responsibility for mental health and older people, Deputy Jim Daly. From the HSE's mental health division, we have Mr. Jim Ryan, acting national director, and Dr. Philip Dodd, national clinical adviser and clinical programmes group lead on mental health. From the Mental Health Commission, we have Ms Patricia Gilheaney, chief executive, and Dr. Susan Finnerty, inspector of mental health services. From the Irish Medical Organisation, IMO, we have Dr. Matthew Sadlier, consultant psychiatrist, and Mr. Cian O'Dowd, policy and international affairs officer. From Tusla, we have Mr. Jim Gibson, the chief operations officer who is present in his capacity as acting chief executive in place of Mr. Fred McBride, who is on leave, and Ms Patricia Finlay, service director for Dublin and mid-Leinster. We also have Professor Joyce O'Connor, chairperson of the expert group on mental health policy, which produced the policy A Vision for Change. The witnesses are most welcome and I thank them for engaging with the committee in its consideration of this important and sensitive topic.

Before we begin, I must draw witnesses' attention to the following procedural matters. This is housekeeping, so to speak. I advise witnesses that, by virtue of 17(2)(l) of the Defamation Act 2009, they are protected by absolute privilege in respect of their evidence to the committee. However, if they are directed by the Chair to cease giving evidence on a particular matter and they continue to do so, they are entitled thereafter only to a 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 are asked to respect the parliamentary practice to the effect that, where possible, they should not criticise or make charges against any person, persons or entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable. I also advise the witnesses that the opening statements that they have submitted to the committee will be published on its website after the meeting.

To commence proceedings, I invite Senator Freeman to make a few introductory remarks. I will then invite each witness to make a short presentation to the committee. Witnesses may share their time with a colleague if they so wish. They should please indicate this when they are invited to speak. Given the large number of witnesses attending this session, I ask that presenters keep their opening statements as brief as possible. I suggest five minutes. When the presentations have finished, there will be time for questions and comments from the Senators and responses from the witnesses.