Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank Mr. O'Brien. Before I invite questions, there are two issues I want to raise briefly. I also have some questions of my own, which I will hold until the end. The first issue concerns a letter I was sent yesterday by a psychiatrist who I will not name, although he is named in the press.

I was very disturbed to receive a letter under a HSE letterhead urging me to resist the pressure to yield to populism - specious arguments - and to give my support for the retention of the eighth amendment to the Constitution, Article 40.3.3o. I would like Mr. O'Brien to comment on that. I state for the record that I do not think anyone appreciates getting letters of this nature. We need to hear from Mr. O'Brien whether it was a breach of HSE policy. I have some passing familiarity with that and am reasonably sure it is. Perhaps, Mr. O'Brien could confirm that and advise the committee as to what will be done to follow up on it. This individual, who I am not going to name, is in the media now defending the actions. It is very distressing to be in receipt of emails of this nature which purport to come from the HSE.

My second point may be one for Mr. O’Brien and the Minister. It relates to the section 39 agencies. Are all of the representative bodies signed up to and involved in the process that was referred to? Can the committee have a timeline on that? As someone who was representing the bodies at the time, the Government moved nice and quickly to cut their wages and we would like to see the same sort of speed and attention with regard to pay restoration.