Michael McNamara (Clare, Independent) | Oireachtas source

We have a quorum and we are now in public session. We have been notified that Deputy Gannon is substituting for Deputy Shortall. There may be other such notifications later.

I welcome our witnesses to our hearing on testing and tracing. We are joined in the Dáil Chamber by Professor Paddy Mallon, professor of microbial diseases in the school of medicine at University College Dublin, and I welcome him. I also welcome in Committee Room 1 from the HSE Mr. Damien McCallion, national director of emergency management and director general of the co-operation and working together partnership; Dr. Colm Henry, chief clinical officer; and Ms Niamh O'Beirne, national lead for contact tracing and testing; from the Department of Health Dr. Cillian De Gascun, consultant virologist and director of the National Virus Reference Laboratory and member of the National Public Health Emergency Team, NPHET; Dr. Alan Smith, deputy chief medical officer; Mr. Muiris O’Connor, assistant secretary of the research and development and health analytics division; and Ms Laura Casey, principal officer.

I wish to advise the witnesses 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 manner as to make him, her or it identifiable.

We expect witnesses to answer questions asked by the committee clearly and with candour, but witnesses can and should expect to be treated fairly and with respect and consideration at all times in accordance with the witness protocol. If the witnesses have any concerns in this regard I ask them to raise them immediately.

I invite Professor Mallon to make his opening statement and, as is customary at this stage, I ask him to confine it to five minutes as it has been circulated in advance.