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

The purpose of the meeting is for the joint committee to discuss the challenges that have faced emergency departments in public hospitals in recent weeks. To enable the committee to consider this matter I am pleased to welcome in the committee room from the HSE, Mr. Stephen Mulvany, chief executive officer, Mr. Damien McCallion, chief operations officer, and Dr. Colm Henry, chief clinical officer. We are also joined remotely by the following HSE national directors: Mr. Joe Ryan, Ms Mary Day and Ms Yvonne O'Neill.

All those present in the committee room are asked to exercise personal responsibility to protect themselves and others from the risk of contracting Covid 19.

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 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 they comply with any such direction.

Members are also reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect 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 or her identifiable. I remind members of the constitutional requirement that they must be physically present within the confines of the Leinster House complex to participate in public meetings. I will not permit a member to participate where he or she is not adhering to this constitutional requirement. Therefore, any member who attempts to participate from outside the precincts will be asked to leave the meeting. In this regard, I ask members partaking via MS Teams to confirm, prior to making their contributions, that they are on the grounds of the Leinster House campus.

I thank the HSE for making its representatives available at relatively short notice to assist the committee regarding the current pressures on emergency departments in public hospitals and for the briefing material it has provided in this regard. To commence our discussion I invite Mr. Stephen Mulvany to make his opening remarks on behalf of the HSE.