Michael Harty (Clare, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The purpose of this morning's meeting is to give members of the committee an opportunity to receive an update on the CervicalCheck programme with officials from the Department of Health, representatives from the HSE and the Irish National Accreditation Board.

On behalf of the committee, I welcome all the witnesses to our meeting this morning. There are a large number of witnesses. I would firstly like to welcome Dr. Colm Henry, chief clinical officer of the HSE. I also welcome Dr. Lorraine Doherty, clinical director of CervicalCheck; Mr. Damien McCallion, interim national director of the National Screening Service; Ms Celine Fitzgerald, interim chief executive officer of the National Screening Service; and Dr. Peter McKenna, clinical director of the women and infants programme of the HSE.

From the Department of Health, we are joined by Ms Celeste O'Callaghan, principal officer on the CervicalCheck project team; Ms Tracey Conroy, assistant secretary of the acute care division; Dr. Ronan Glynn, deputy chief medial officer; and Mr. Stephen Brophy, principal officer in the governance and clinical indemnity unit.

I also welcome Dr. Sharon McGuinness, chief executive officer of the Health and Safety Authority; Dr. Adrienne Duff, programme manager at the Irish National Accreditation Board; and Ms Bríd Burke, senior accreditation officer of the Irish National Accreditation Board. I thank them all for attending this morning.

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 against any person, persons or entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable. I also advise the witnesses that any opening statements that they have made to the committee may be published on the committee's 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 ask Ms Tracey Conroy to make her opening statement.