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

Apologies have been received from Deputy Gino Kenny who will be substituted by Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett. Apologies have also been received from Senator Frances Black. We will deal with one housekeeping matter before I introduce the witnesses. Draft copies of the minutes of the private meeting on 2 March 2022 and the public meetings of 1 and 2 March 2022 have been circulated to members. Are the minutes agreed? Agreed.

Today, the committee will meet with representatives from SIPTU, Fórsa, the Irish Medical Organisation, IMO, and the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation, INMO, regarding the ongoing and persistent overcrowding crisis in hospitals. I welcome from SIPTU, Mr. John McCamley, sector organiser, Mr. Ted Kenny, sector organiser, Mr. Greg Lyons, ambulance sector president, who is appearing virtually, and Mr. Peter Ray, chairperson of the Irish Ambulance Representative Council, IARC; from the INMO, Ms Phil Ní Sheaghdha, general secretary, who is hopefully on the line, and Ms Karen McGowan, president; from Fórsa, Ms Catherine Keogh, assistant general secretary, and Ms Chris Cully, assistant general secretary; and from the IMO, Dr. Mick Molloy, IMO consultant committee and consultant in emergency medicine, and Ms Vanessa Hetherington, assistant director, policy and international affairs. They are all very welcome to this meeting.

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 as 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 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 they comply with any such direction.

I call Ms Hetherington to make her opening remarks.