John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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At this session we will deal with Vote 38 Health and Chapter 13: Irish Blood Transfusion Service, IBTS, pension scheme. In the second session of the meeting we will deal with the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board financial statements 2013.

Before we begin, I remind members, witnesses and those in the public Gallery to turn off their mobile phones as the interference from them affects the sound quality and transmission of the meeting. I advise witnesses that by virtue of section 17(2)(l) of the Defamation Act 2009, they are protected by absolute privilege in respect of the evidence they are to give this committee. If they are directed by the committee to cease giving evidence in relation to a particular matter and they continue to so do, they are entitled thereafter only to a qualified privilege in respect of their evidence. Witnesses 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 nor make charges against a Member of either House, a person outside the House or an official by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable. Members are reminded of the provisions within Standing Order 163 that a committee should also refrain from inquiring into the merits of a policy or policies of the Government or a Minister of the Government, or the merits of the objectives of such policies.

I welcome Mr. Jim Breslin, Secretary General at the Department of Health, and I ask him to introduce his officials.