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

The committee is meeting with witnesses to discuss integrated eye care. I welcome: Professor David Keegan, who is a consultant ophthalmic surgeon at the Mater Misericordiae University Hospital and clinical transformation lead with the north east regional integrated eye care services, NERIECS; Ms Sharon Ryan, chief operating officer at Children’s Health Ireland, CHI; Mr. Aaron Mullaniff, head of services at the National Council for the Blind of Ireland, NCBI; and Dr. Duncan Rogers, clinical lead at community healthcare organisation, CHO, 9 in Dublin 2.

All members and 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 statements are potentially defamatory in respect of an identifiable person or entity, they will be directed to discontinue their remarks. It is imperative that they comply with any such directions.

I call on Professor Keegan to make his opening remarks.