Michael McNamara (Clare, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome to our meeting the witnesses from the HSE, joining us by video link from committee room 2, to examine the State's response to the recent spike in coronavirus detected cases. Mr. Paul Reid, chief executive officer, Ms Anne O’Connor, chief operations officer, Dr. Colm Henry, chief clinical officer, and Ms Niamh O'Beirne, lead for testing and tracing, are very welcome to our meeting this morning.

Before we commence the formal proceedings, I 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 they are directed by the committee to cease giving evidence in relation to a particular matter, they must respect that direction. Witnesses are directed that only evidence connected with the subject matter of these proceedings is to be given and 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 invite Mr. Reid to make his opening statement and ask that he please confine himself to five minutes to allow time for questions and answers.