Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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Members and witnesses attending from within the committee room are asked to exercise personal responsibility to protect themselves and others from the risk of contracting Covid-19. Members of the committee attending remotely must continue to do so from within the precincts of Leinster House due to the constitutional requirement that, in order to participate in public meetings, members must be physically present within the confines of the place where Parliament has chosen to sit. The Comptroller and Auditor General, Mr. Seamus McCarthy, is a permanent witness to the committee. He is accompanied by Mr. John Crehan, deputy director of audit at the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General.

This morning we engage with officials from the Department of Health to examine the Appropriation Account 2021: Vote 38 - Health; and the Report on the Accounts of the Public Services 2021, chapter 12: financial impact of cyber security attack. The committee has expressed particular interest in the following matters: expenditure on emergency departments; charges levied for the provision of nursing-home care; charges levied for the provision of nursing-home care for persons with disabilities, those resident in section 38 and 39 voluntary community disability services; and disabled persons maintenance allowance. At a meeting last week, the Department was asked to prepare the following information for today's meeting: the number of cases settled in relation to nursing-home charges; the specific cost of litigation for cases related to nursing home charges and how much has been paid out in respect of claims related to long-stay charges levied on clients of disability services. In relation to the issue of nursing charges, I remind members that it is the role of the committee to examine accounts and expenditure and that should be the focus of our considerations. The Joint Committee on Health will be examining policy matters.

We are joined by the following officials from the Department of Health: Mr. Robert Watt, Secretary General, Ms Louise McGirr, assistant secretary, Ms Siobhán McArdle, assistant secretary, Mr. Kevin Coleman, principal officer, Ms Laura Casey, principal officer and Mr. Daniel Curry, assistant principal. From the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform we are joined by Mr. Daniel O'Callaghan and Mr. Eoin Dormer. We are also joined by Mr. Fran Thompson, chief information officer, from the HSE. They are all very welcome. I just overlooked Mr. Derek Tierney, assistant secretary in the Department of Health. My apologies. He was added on late.

I remind all those in attendance to ensure that their mobile phones are switched off. Before we start, I wish to explain some limitations to parliamentary privilege and the practice of the House as regards reference they may make to other persons in their evidence. As witnesses are within the precincts of Leinster House, they are protected by absolute privilege in respect of presentations they make to the committee. This means that they have an absolute defence against any defamation action for anything they say at the meeting. However, they are expected not to abuse this privilege and it is my duty as Cathaoirleach to ensure that this privilege is not abused. Therefore, if their statements are potentially defamatory in relation to an identifiable person or entity, they will be directed to discontinue their remarks. It is imperative that they comply with any such direction.

Members are reminded of the provisions of Standing Order 218 that the committee shall 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.

Members are also reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice 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 as to make him or her identifiable.

I call the Comptroller and Auditor General to make his opening statement.