Colm Burke (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

First of all, I wish to apologise for the Chairman and Vice Chairman, who are at other meetings at present. They have asked me to step in to open this session. We are dealing with regulation of home care providers.

On behalf of the committee I welcome Mr. Pat Healy and Mr. Michael Fitzgerald of the HSE; Mr. Ed Murphy and Mr. Ed Crotty of Home and Community Care Ireland; and Ms Allison Metcalfe and Mr. Conor McCarthy of Health Care Assistants and Carers Ireland.

I wish to draw your attention to the fact that virtue of section 17(2)(l) of the Defamation Act 2009, witnesses are protected by absolute privilege in respect of their evidence to this committee. However, if you are directed by the committee to cease giving evidence on a particular matter and you continue to so do, you are entitled thereafter only to a qualified privilege in respect of your evidence. You are directed that only evidence connected with the subject matter of these proceedings is to be given and you are asked to respect the parliamentary practice to the effect that, where possible, you should not criticise or make charges against any person, persons or entity by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable. Any opening statements you have made to the committee may be published on the committee 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 charges against a person outside the House or an official either by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.

I will invite Mr. Pat Healy of the HSE to make an opening statement.