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

Apologies have been received from Senators Kyne and Conway.

Before we get to the main item on today's agenda, the minutes of the committee meetings of 8, 9, 10 and 15 October have been circulated to members for consideration. Are they agreed? Agreed.

Today the joint committee will first meet the Irish Cardiac Society to discuss issues and challenges relating to cardiology. Later we will separately meet Fórsa to give further consideration to staffing levels in the HSE.

To commence the committee's consideration I am pleased to welcome from the Irish Cardiac Society, Professor Pascal McKeown, president; Professor Brendan McAdam, president elect of Beaumont Hospital; Dr. Yvonne Smyth, University Hospital Galway, who is joining us online; Dr. Niamh Murphy, Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda and Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, Dublin; and Ms Barbra Dalton, executive director.

I will read a note on privilege. 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 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 may be directed to discontinue their remarks and it is imperative they comply with any such direction.

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 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 they are not adhering to the 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 any member participating via MS Teams that, prior to making their contribution, they confirm that they are on the grounds of the Leinster House campus.

To commence our consideration of this matter, I invite Professor McKeown to make his opening remarks on behalf of the Irish Cardiac Society.