Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

We will now resume in public session. I welcome Professor Penney Lewis, professor of law and co-director of the Centre of Medical Law and Ethics at King's College London and thank her for travelling to be with us today. The format of the meeting is that Professor Lewis will be invited to make an opening statement, to be followed by a questions and answers session with committee members.

Before we begin, I am obliged to provide Professor Lewis with the privilege reminder or caution. Professor Lewis should note that she is protected by absolute privilege in respect of her evidence to the committee. If, however, she is directed by the committee to cease giving evidence on a particular matter and continues to do so, she is entitled thereafter only to qualified privilege in respect of her evidence. She is 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, she should not criticise or make charges against any person, persons or an entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable. I have already reminded the members of their obligations. I now invite Professor Lewis to make her opening statement.