Michael Harty (Clare, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The purpose of this morning's meeting is to engage with the Irish Medical Organisation, the Irish College of General Practitioners, the National Association of General Practitioners and the Irish Congress of Trade Unions health committee regarding primary care expansion as recommended in the Sláintecare report. This meeting will be held over three sessions. For our first session, we will engage with the Irish Medical Organisation and the Irish College of General Practitioners. On behalf of the committee, I welcome Dr. Pádraig McGarry, Dr. Ray Walley and Ms Vanessa Hetherington on behalf of the Irish Medical Organisation, and Dr. Mark Murphy and Dr. Brendan O'Shea on behalf of the Irish College of General Practitioners.

On behalf of the committee, I draw the attention of the witnesses to the fact 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 the committee to cease giving evidence on a particular matter and they continue to so do, 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 they 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. Any opening statement made to the committee will be published on its website after the meeting. Members are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that 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 invite Dr. McGarry to make his opening statement.