Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I apologise for jumping in and out. We must work out the issue of simultaneous Question Time and committee sittings. It is not the Chairman's fault.

I thank the witnesses for attending. I have a number of questions and will start where Dr. Morrissey finished. I congratulate him on his work and thank him for it. Regarding the HRB's discussions with the Department, it is obvious that Dr. Morrissey is managing a confined budget. It is concerning that there has not been a breakthrough in the board's budget in recent times, given the knock-on effects on the other groups. If there was one illness that the public, understanding everything, would like to see more funding for, it would be this.

We timed this right and brought the witnesses in first. In light of the groups that will be before us in the next session, it might be helpful if Dr. Morrissey elaborated on how far down the road the HRB is in its discussions with the Department regarding the board's overall funding and what it passes on to CTI. The more information he can give us, the better.