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

I welcome the witnesses from the HSE, the Department of Health and the Health Products Regulatory Authority to our meeting. They will provide us with an update on the medical cannabis access programme. I welcome from the HSE, Mr. Shaun Flanagan, assistant national director, HSE primary care reimbursement service, PCRS, and Professor Bryan Lynch, consultant paediatric neurologist, Children's University Hospital, Temple Street; from the Department of Health, Mr. Muiris O'Connor, assistant secretary, research and development and health analytics division, Ms Anne Marie Seymour, principal officer, medicines, controlled drugs and pharmacy legislation unit, and Mr. Conor Brennan, assistant principal officer, medicines, controlled drugs and pharmacy legislation unit; and from the Health Products Regulatory Authority, Dr. Lorraine Nolan, chief executive, Ms Grainne Power, director of human products authorisation and registration, and Ms Aoife Farrell, health products distribution manager.

Members have the option of being physically present in the committee room or may join the meeting remotely from Leinster House. Members and all in attendance are asked to exercise personal responsibility in respect of protecting themselves and others from the risk of contracting Covid-19. They are strongly advised to practice good hand hygiene and leave at least one vacant seat between them and others attending. They should also maintain an appropriate level of social distance during and after the meeting. Masks, preferably of medical grade, should be worn at all times during the meeting, except when speaking, and I ask for the members' full co-operation in this regard.

Before we hear our witnesses' opening statements, I need to point out to them that there is uncertainty that parliamentary privilege will apply to their evidence from a location outside of the parliamentary precincts of Leinster House. If, therefore, they are directed by me to cease giving evidence on a particular matter, they must respect that direction. I call on Mr. O'Connor from the Department of Health to make his opening statement.