Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The next item on our agenda is ensuring access to palliative care and social supports. From the Irish Association for Palliative Care, I welcome Dr. Hannah Linane, chairperson of the association and specialist palliative care doctor, and Dr. Una Molloy, advanced nurse practitioner, palliative care for older people. The Irish Hospice Foundation is represented by Ms Paula O'Reilly, CEO, and Professor Susan O'Reilly, board member and chair of the association's research, advocacy and policy subcommittee. Hope Ireland is represented by Dr. Miriam Colleran and Ms Emer Maguire. We are grateful to the witnesses for sharing their knowledge and wide experience.

The question and answer format for this meeting is that the members will ask questions after the witnesses have made their opening statements. A member can ask an individual witness a question or address a question to all of the witnesses. I ask that the witnesses keep their opening statements to the five minutes. We run on a very tight schedule. Do not blame me; I am warning in advance. I am strict about the time because otherwise we will be here until tomorrow morning. As I said, witnesses should keep their opening statements to five minutes. The clocks will flash around the room anyway. I invite Dr. Linane to make her opening statement.