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

Everyone is very welcome. As so many groups are represented, it will probably be difficult to chair this meeting. I ask attendees to bear with me if I start pulling out my hair. I have informed members who specifically ask a question of union representatives that if the same question is then opened to everybody it will be quite difficult. The sessions are broken down into ten-minute slots, which includes time for questions and answers. I expect many members will want to get in. I ask everyone to try to work with me. If we can keep the responses fairly short, that would be very good. I am also conscious that some of the opening statements are a little long. I ask the representatives to try to stick to three minutes for their opening statements, as they were asked. If their statements are longer than that, we will read them into the record anyway.

Before we get to the main item on today's agenda, the minutes of meetings held on 31 January and 1 February have been circulated to members for consideration. Are they agreed? Agreed.

The purpose of today's meeting is consideration of the issue of the health and welfare of staff and patients in the public health service. The committee is joined by representatives of the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation, INMO, the Irish Medical Organisation, IMO, and the trade unions Fórsa and SIPTU. I welcome Ms Philomena Ni Sheaghdha, who will be replaced during the meeting by Mr. Albert Murphy as she has to leave early for another appointment; Ms Sylvia Chambers from the INMO; and Dr. Clive Kilgallen and Dr. Laura Finnegan from the IMO. We are also joined by Mr. Kevin Figgis and Mr. John McCamley from SIPTU and Ms Ashley Connolly and Ms Linda Kelly from Fórsa.

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 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 from me.

Members are 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 again remind members of the constitutional requirement that they must be physically present within the confines of the Leinster House complex in order to participate in public meetings. I will not permit a member to participate where he or she is not adhering to this constitutional requirement and, therefore, any member who attempts to participate from outside the precincts will be asked to leave the meeting. In this regard, I ask any members taking part via MS Teams that prior to making their contributions to the meeting they confirm they are on the grounds of the Leinster House campus.

All the witnesses have submitted detailed opening statements, which have been circulated to members in advance and will be published on the committee's webpage as per normal. Given the number of witnesses, there is a need for effective and equitable management of the meeting time.

I ask each witness to confine their opening remarks to three minutes. The committee has also requested and received a written submission from the HSE. This, along with the submission from the Better Working Lives for All committee, has been circulated to members. I now call Ms Phil Ní Sheaghdha to make her statement on behalf of the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation.