Seán Fleming (Laois, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

We will proceed with the main business of today, the appropriation accounts for 2017 for Vote 38 for the Department of Health, the HSE financial statement for 2018 and chapter 16 of the Comptroller and Auditor General's report on the accounts of the public services for 2017, which deals with the control of private patient activity in acute public hospitals. We are joined from the Department of Health by Mr. Jim Breslin, Secretary General, Mr. Colm Desmond, assistant secretary, Ms Aonraid Dunne and Ms Pamela Carter.

From the HSE we are joined by the new director general, Mr. Paul Reid. He is very welcome to the job and to the committee. He has been here previously. We are also joined by Ms Anne O'Connor, deputy director general; Mr. Stephen Mulvany, chief financial officer; Mr. Joe Ryan, national director of national services; and Ms Mairéad Dolan, assistant chief financial officer. Ms Marie Mulvihill from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform is also present.

I welcome Mr. Paul Reid, the new director general of the HSE. It is his first appearance before the Committee of Public Accounts in that role.

I remind members, witnesses and those in the Public Gallery that all mobile phones must be switched off. That means putting them on airplane mode, as merely putting them on silent mode will still interfere with the recording system.

By 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. If they are directed by the committee to cease giving evidence in relation to a particular matter and they continue to do so, 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 nor make charges against any person or entity, by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable.

Members are reminded of the provisions within Standing Order 186 that the committee shall also refrain from enquiring into the merits of a policy or policies of the Government or a Minister of the Government or the merits of the objectives of such policies. While we expect witnesses to answer questions asked by the committee clearly and with candour, they can, and should, expect to be treated fairly and with respect and consideration at all times, in accordance with the witness protocol. I invite Mr. McCarthy to make his opening statement.