Michael Harty (Clare, Independent) | Oireachtas source

This is a quarterly meeting with the Minister for Health and the director general of the HSE. The purpose of this meeting is to allow the Minister and his officials and the director general and his staff to update the committee on key healthcare issues. On behalf of the committee, I welcome the Minister for Health, Deputy Simon Harris, who is accompanied by the Minister of State, Deputy Jim Daly, and we may be joined by other Ministers of State during the course of the meeting. I also welcome the director general of the HSE, Mr. Tony O'Brien, and the deputy director general and chief strategy and planning officer, Mr. Dean Sullivan, who are accompanied by Ms Anne O'Connor, Mr. Damien McCallion and Ms Angela Fitzgerald.

I draw the attention of 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 any person, persons or entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable.

Any opening statements made to the committee may be published on its website after this meeting.

Members are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that they should not comment on, criticise or make any charges against a person outside of the Houses or an official either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.

I would like to make a few comments before we start. The director general of the HSE was due to be on annual leave this week but has come back to deal with the cervical screening controversy and, as such, he had not planned to be here this morning, but he has made himself available. I thank Mr. O'Brien very much for coming in. He has a prior engagement later this morning in regard to examining the cervical screening programme, therefore, he will be here for a limited period of time, until 10.30 a.m. or so.

In that regard, this committee is here to establish facts, to examine policy issues, and to hold the Department and the HSE to account, but it is not a forum for making political capital or political statements or for personal commentary on any one individual. I would like the committee members to observe that practice. Bearing that in mind, I call on the Minister, Deputy Harris, to make his opening statements.