Jerry Buttimer (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I remind members, witnesses and those in the Public Gallery to turn their mobile phones off as they interfere with the broadcasting of our proceedings. Apologies have been received from Senators Henry, van Turnhout and Crown. Today's meeting was arranged at short notice to follow up on our meeting with HIQA regarding its report on patient safety and maternity services in Portlaoise and our quarterly meeting last Thursday with the HSE. Given the serious findings arising from the report and previous delays in its publication, I advise members to exercise caution, if they can, in referring to the issues without naming specific individuals. On Wednesday, the committee had a very thorough and strong meeting with HIQA, which presented a summary of the findings of its inquiry into safety, quality and standards of services provided by the HSE to patients in the Midland Regional Hospital, Portlaoise. The main purpose of today's meeting is to listen to a number of very important people, the families, parents and patient advocates. I extend a warm welcome to Mr. Ollie Kelly, Ms Amy Delahunt, Mr. Mark Molloy, Ms Róisín Molloy, Ms Sheila O'Connor and Ms Cathriona Molloy. I thank them for coming here at such short notice. I also thank them for their courage in speaking out and being very strong advocates for us as citizens.

Our second session this afternoon will give us the opportunity to discuss the HIQA report in greater detail with officials from the HSE. All members of the committee have been very focused on the report and our primary focus is on the families and parents who have experienced such sad tragedy and bereavement in Portlaoise hospital.

I have stated on the record previously, and I do so again this morning, that there is cross-party support for their tenacity and courage not just in the aftermath of this report being published but beforehand also. We all know that the story of childbirth should be a time of joy but in this case, and in many cases, it was one of loss. We need to allow the parents in this case to have an opportunity to speak to a committee in Oireachtas Éireann, the people's House.

I thank our witnesses for being here today. Our focus will be on the stories that will be told. We will hear first from Sheila O'Connor, national co-ordinator of Patient Focus, which advocated on behalf of many families in the Portlaoise hospital inquiry. We will then hear from the different people involved.

Before we begin, it is important for us as a committee to acknowledge the loss of baby Mark and baby Mary Kate, and the tragic loss of other babies also, whose memory is foremost in our thoughts.

I advise the witnesses that by virtue of section 17(2)(l) of the Defamation Act 2009, witnesses are protected by absolute privilege in respect of their evidence to the committee. However, if they are directed by the committee to cease giving evidence on a particular matter and they continue to so do, they are entitled thereafter only to a qualified privilege in respect of their evidence. They are directed that only evidence connected with the subject matter of these proceedings is to be given and they are asked to respect the parliamentary practice to the effect that, where possible, they should not criticise or make charges against any person, persons or entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable. Members are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice and ruling of the Chair to the effect 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.

As is the custom, I will begin by hearing from committee members after the opening presentations, and then move to non-committee members. I call Ms Sheila O'Connor to make her opening remarks.