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

The purpose of today's meeting is for the committee to discuss further the general scheme of the health (termination of pregnancy services (safe access zones)) Bill 2022. The committee has already discussed this matter with the Department of Health and An Garda Síochána. The committee has also considered all of the written submissions received from interested groups to date. We will focus on issues raised at our earlier meetings. To enable the committee to consider this matter, I am pleased to welcome Mr. Muiris O'Connor, assistant secretary at the Department of Health with responsibility for research and development and health analytics, and Ms Bronwyn Conway and Ms Caitriona Mason from the bioethics unit.

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 to the effect 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 again reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that they should not comment on, criticise or make charges against persons 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 members to participate where they are 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.

To commence the discussion, I invite Mr. Muiris O'Connor to make his opening remarks on behalf of the Department of Health.