Michael McNamara (Clare, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome our witnesses, who are in committee room 2. From the Irish Cancer Society, I welcome Ms Rachel Morrogh, director of advocacy and external affairs, and Mr. Donal Buggy, director of services. From the Irish Medical Organisation, IMO, I welcome back to the committee Ms Susan Clyne, chief executive officer, and welcome Dr. Peadar Gilligan from the IMO's consultant committee and Dr. Denis McCauley, chair of the IMO's GP committee.

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 this committee. If you are directed by the committee to cease giving evidence in relation to 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 nor make charges against any person or persons or entity, by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable.

I invite Ms Morrogh to make the opening remarks for the Irish Cancer Society. I ask that she confine them to five minutes to allow time for questions and answers.