Chairman:

I welcome from the Health Service Executive, Ms Anne O'Connor, national director of mental health services, Mr. Stephen Mulvany, chief financial officer, Mr. Jim Ryan, head of operations and service improvement, mental health division, and Ms Yvonne O’Neill, head of planning, performance and programme management, mental health division. On behalf of the joint committee, I thank the witnesses for their attendance. The format of the meeting is that Ms O'Connor will be invited to make a brief opening statement, which will be followed by questions and answers.

Before we begin, I draw the attention of witnesses to the position regarding privilege. Witnesses are protected by absolute privilege in respect of the evidence they are to give to the committee. However, if they are directed by it to cease giving evidence on a particular matter and they 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 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.

Members should be aware that, under the salient rulings of the Chair, 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 remind members and witnesses to turn off mobile telephones or switch them to flight mode. Mobile phones interfere with the sound system, make it difficult for parliamentary reporters to report the meeting and adversely affect television coverage and web streaming of the proceedings. I advise witnesses that submissions and opening statements will be published on the committee website after the meeting. I invite Ms O'Connor to make her opening statement.