Chairman:

I welcome to the meeting Mr. Ray Henry and Ms Lisa Molloy from the Irish Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, and Dr. David Murphy from the University of Nottingham. From the Irish College of General Practitioners, ICGP, I welcome Dr. John O'Brien, vice president and incoming president, Dr. Brendan O'Shea, director, postgraduate resource centre, and Dr. Brian Osborne, assistant director, postgraduate resource centre, with special responsibility for mental health. On behalf of the committee I thank the representatives for their attendance here today. The format of the meeting is that they will be invited to make a brief opening statement, which will be followed by questions and answers.

Before we begin, I draw witnesses' attention to the situation in regard to privilege. Witnesses are protected by absolute privilege in respect of the evidence they give 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 or entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable.

I remind members and witnesses to turn of their mobile telephones. That is very important because they interfere with the sound system and make it difficult for parliamentary reporters to report the meeting and television coverage and web streaming will be adversely affected. I would be very grateful if they would switch their phones to airplane mode.

I wish to advise witnesses that any submission or opening statement made to the committee will be published on the committee website after this meeting. I invite the representatives to make their opening statements. We will start with Mr. Ray Henry.