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

Today the committee will meet with the HSE and the Department of Health to discuss the implementation of Sláintecare. I welcome Mr. Paul Reid, CEO; Ms Anne O'Connor, chief operations officer; Mr. Liam Woods, national director of acute operations; Ms Yvonne O'Neill, national director of community operations, HSE; Ms Breda Crehan-Roche, chief officer of Community Healthcare West; and Mr. Tony Canavan, group chief executive officer of Saolta University Healthcare Group. I also welcome Mr. Robert Watt, secretary General, Mr. Muiris O'Connor, assistant secretary and Mr Sarah Treleaven, principal officer, Department of Health.

All witnesses are 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 the witnesses' 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 all such direction.

I call Mr. Watt to make his opening remarks.