Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank our witnesses - Mr. Watt and his team from the Department of Health and the staff member from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform - for their work in preparing for the meeting and for attending. I am conscious that the Department of Health has faced unprecedented challenges for the best part of two years. We are probably facing into another difficult year. It is to be hoped that we can get through it. I acknowledge the work of the staff. All members mentioned the front-line staff. I also mentioned the administrative staff and everyone else behind that. I thank the Comptroller and Auditor General, Mr. McCarthy, and his staff for their attendance and assistance throughout the year. This is the final meeting of the year and, on behalf of the committee, I thank the secretariat. It is dangerous to mention names because I will leave some of them out, but I thank Sarah, Eoin, Pat, Sam and Shane for the service they have provided. I also thank Martin, the clerk to the committee. I wish the staff of the health service all the best for Christmas and the new year.

Is it agreed to request that the clerk seek any follow-up information and carry out any actions arising from today's meeting, of which there are a few? The meeting was fairly robust and there were a lot of questions. I know Mr. Watt does not have all the information to hand. It is agreed that the clerk will follow up and, as always, the Department will supply that information to the committee. That is agreed. Is it also agreed that we note and publish the opening statement and the briefings provided to the committee for this meeting? Agreed.

We will suspend until 1.30 p.m., when the committee will resume in public session to consider correspondence and other matters.