Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I welcome our witnesses to this meeting. They will provide us with an update on the implementation of Sláintecare. I should also mention that the Sláintecare Implementation Strategy and Action Plan 2021-2023 was published last month and makes for interesting reading. I welcome, from the Sláintecare programme implementation office in the Department of Health, Ms Laura Magahy, deputy secretary; Ms Caroline Pigott, principal officer; Ms Rosaleen Harlin, principal officer; Ms Sarah Treleaven, principal officer; and Mr. Bob Patterson, principal officer. I also welcome, from the Healthy Ireland division of the Department of Health, Mr. Tom James, head of the unit; Ms Fiona Mansergh, assistant principal officer; Mr. Greg Straton, assistant principal officer; and Ms Ursula O'Dwyer, assistant principal officer. From the e-health and health information systems division of the Department of Health, I welcome Mr. Niall Sinnott, principal officer.

Before I ask our guests to deliver their opening statements, I need to point out to our witnesses that there is uncertainty as to whether parliamentary privilege will apply to evidence that is given from a location outside the parliamentary precincts of Leinster House. Therefore, if they are directed by me to cease giving evidence on a particular matter, they must respect that direction.

I call Ms Magahy to make her opening remarks. Following the presentation, I will call committee members to ask particular questions. Ms Magahy is very welcome.