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

Apologies have been received from Senator Hoey. Copies of the minutes of the meetings of 27 and 28 February and 5 and 20 March 2024 have been circulated to members for consideration. Are the minutes agreed? Agreed.

The purpose of today's meeting is to consider the funding and implementation of the national cancer strategy. The meeting will be divided into two sessions. We will hear first from representatives of the Irish Cancer Society, ICS, following which we will engage with witnesses from the Health Service Executive, HSE. I am pleased to welcome Ms Averil Power, chief executive officer; Ms Emma Harte, policy and campaigns manager; and Mr. John Kennedy, MB FRCPI, consultant medical oncologist and co-director at Trinity St. James's Cancer Institute, ICS.

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. If witnesses' statements are potentially defamatory of an identifiable person or entity, they will be directed by me to discontinue their remarks. It is imperative that they comply with any such direction.

Members are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice that they should not comment on, criticise or make charges against a person outside the House 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 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 if he or she is not adhering to this constitutional requirement. Any member who attempts to participate from outside the precincts will be asked to leave the meeting. I will ask any member participating via MS Teams, prior to making a contribution, to confirm that he or she is located on the grounds of the Leinster House campus.

To commence our consideration of the funding and implementation of the national cancer strategy, I invite Ms Power to make her opening remarks.