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

As we have a quorum we will commence in public session. Apologies have been received from Deputy Colm Burke. At the outset I would like to convey sincere sympathies on behalf of the Joint Committee on Health to the family and friends of Mr. Matthew Healy who died in University Hospital Cork on Sunday. The committee is due to consider the issue of safety and the welfare of staff and patients in the health service on 8 February 2023.

Before we get to the main item of today's agenda, minutes of the meetings of 17 and 18 January 2023, have been circulated to members for consideration. Are they agreed? Agreed.

The purpose of today's meeting is for the Joint Committee on Health to consider the matter of electronic records in health care and related issues. This meeting will be divided into two sessions. The joint committee will first meet with representatives from the HSE from 9.30 a.m. to no later than 11.30 a.m. Following this the joint committee will meet with representatives from the Health Research Charities Ireland from 11.30 a.m. The meeting will end no later than 12.30 p.m.

To commence the committee's consideration of this matter I am pleased to welcome from the HSE, Mr. Fran Thompson, chief information officer, Mr. Michael Redmond, chief operating officer eHealth, and Dr. Brendan Murphy, consultant paediatrician and neonatologist previously in Cork University Hospital.

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 invite Mr. Fran Thompson to make his opening statement on behalf of the HSE.