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

I welcome our witnesses from the Department of Health and the HSE to our meeting to discuss Sláintecare. From the Department of Health, I welcome Mr. Robert Watt, Secretary General; Mr. Muiris O'Connor, assistant secretary; Mr. Bob Patterson, principal officer; Mr. Jack Nagle, principal officer; and Ms Caroline Pigott, principal officer. From the HSE, I welcome Mr. Paul Reid, CEO; Ms Yvonne O'Neill, national director of community operations; Ms Anne O'Connor, chief operations officer; Mr. Liam Woods, national director of acute operations; and Ms Yvonne Goff, national director of change and innovation.

All witnesses are again reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice that they should not criticise or make charges against any person or entity by name or in such a way to make him, her or it identifiable or otherwise engage in speech that might be regarded as damaging to the good name of the person or entity. Therefore, if any of their statements are potentially defamatory in relation to an identifiable person or entity, they will be directed to discontinue their remarks. It is imperative that the witnesses comply with any such direction.

I call on Mr. Watt to make his opening remarks.