Chairman:

I welcome to the meeting from CHO 4, Mr. Ger Reaney, chief officer and Ms Sinead Glennon, head of mental health services; from CHO 5, Ms Aileen Colley, chief officer, Dr. Stephen Browne, executive clinical director for mental health, and Mr. Michael Morrow, head of finance; and from CHO 6, Ms Martina Queally, chief officer, and Ms Antoinette Barry, head of mental health services. On behalf of the committee I thank them for their attendance today.

The format of the meeting is that each chief officer will be invited to make a brief opening statement which will be followed by questions and answers. Before beginning I draw the witnesses' attention to privilege. Witnesses 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 or make charges against any persons or entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable. Any submission or opening statement made to the committee will be published on the committee website after this meeting. I invite each of the chief officers to make their opening statement.