Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Apologies have been received from the Chairman, Deputy McGuinness, and Senator Sherlock. Deputy Tully is substituting for Deputy Farrell and Deputy Matthews also sends his apologies.

No. 6 on today's agenda is the minutes of the joint committee's meeting of 4 May 2022. They were agreed at the earlier meeting. No. 7 on the agenda is an engagement with former members of the Disabled Drivers Medical Board of Appeal. I welcome members and viewers who may be watching the proceedings on Oireachtas TV to the public session of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure, Reform, and Taoiseach. The purpose of today's meeting is to discuss the disabled drivers and passengers scheme with the former chair and a former member of the Disabled Drivers Medical Board of Appeal. They are Dr. Cara McDonagh, former chair of the board, and Dr. Nicky Scaramuzzi, a former member of board. Dr. McDonagh will make some brief opening remarks, which will be followed by a question and answer session from members.

I draw attention to privilege because we cannot malign or draw attention to anybody outside the House who cannot answer for himself or herself. Using the privilege of the Houses to make remarks about somebody else is not allowed and we cannot do that. I am not suggesting for a minute the witnesses would do it. It happens from time to time, much to the chagrin of the committee. We must deal with it as it comes up.

Members are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice that they should not comment on, criticise or make charges against a person outside the Houses or an official either by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable. We must take that with a grain of salt too with some of what we see from time to time, including recently. However, I remind members attending remotely that the constitutional requirement is the members must be physically present within the confines of the place where Parliament sits, namely, Leinster House.

I invite Dr. McDonagh to make her opening remarks.