Michael McNamara (Clare, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The Deputy has made that point very clearly. The committee agreed that we would invite representatives from the HSE and NPHET, and the Minister who ultimately makes the political decisions in conjunction with Cabinet, which is collectively responsible. We learned that representatives from the HSE could not come initially last week because the winter plan had not been published. They came in this week. Representatives of NPHET and the Minister were not available last week; they are available this week. From my perspective, it is very regrettable that we were not able to have two different sessions. I learned last night in a tweet from a journalist that representatives from NPHET were available and would be coming in.

Ultimately NPHET, from a legal perspective, is an advisory body within the Department of Health. The committee secretariat was in extensive discussions to try to organise the meeting, first to try to organise to have the Minister come - I welcome the Minister and am glad he has come - and second to ascertain the availability of representatives from NPHET. As I said, I learned in a tweet from a journalist last night that representatives from NPHET would be available. It is regrettable that we are not having two sessions. I spent a number of hours yesterday evening in discussions with the secretariat and senior officials in the Houses of the Oireachtas to see if we could use the Seanad Chamber which is empty at the moment, but apparently there are not enough staff in the Houses of the Oireachtas to facilitate a second meeting. I share Deputy Shortall's view that that is unsatisfactory. Nevertheless, the witnesses are here now to answer questions. I propose that we talk to them and then we can take up Deputy O'Dowd's suggestion as to whether we need to have a further session.