Michael Harty (Clare, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The purpose of this meeting is to engage with the Minister for Health, Deputy Simon Harris, and the Health Service Executive, HSE, on health issues. We have a difficulty in that the Minister has to go to a Cabinet meeting at 9.45 a.m. We will allow the Minister and Mr. Tony O'Brien to make their opening statements and then take some questions from party spokespersons initially to allow the Minister to respond before he has to go. The Minister has undertaken to come back to the committee after the Cabinet meeting if we are still in session. Unfortunately it is a situation we could not avoid. I invite the Minister to make his opening statement.