Jerry Buttimer (Cork South Central, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I apologise to our witnesses and guests for the delay in commencing. I thank the Members of the Houses, Senator Crown who probably got no sleep and Members of the Dáil who would have had limited sleep, for being here this morning. It shows the importance of parliamentary democracy in that we continue and function. I thank them all for making the effort to be here this morning.

I remind members, witnesses and those in the Visitors Gallery to ensure their mobile phones are switched off for the duration of the meeting as they interfere with the broadcasting of the proceedings and the sound recording system even if they are on silent mode.

I welcome everybody, in particular members of the Irish Thoracic Society, the Asthma Society of Ireland, Cystic Fibrosis Association of Ireland, the Alpha One Foundation, the Irish Sleep Apnoea Trust, Professor McDonnell and Mr. Michael McGloin. I will welcome everybody individually later.

Our meeting this morning has been at the request of Senator Crown and I thank him for highlighting the issue and bringing us to the stage we are at today. Our topic for discussion this morning is lung health promotion and it is a very important part of our work programme. We had hoped to have this meeting in conjunction with Ash Wednesday which is the traditional "no smoking day" but we are approaching this issue in the wider context of lung health as opposed to the cessation of smoking, and that is the reason we are discussing the topic today.

I wish to advise the witnesses that they are protected by absolute privilege in respect of the evidence they are to give to this committee. If they are directed by it to cease giving evidence on a particular matter and continue to so do, they are entitled thereafter to only 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 asked to respect the parliamentary practice to the effect that, where possible, they should not criticise or make charges against a person or persons or an 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 or ruling of the Chair to the effect that, where possible, they should not comment on, criticise or make charges against a person outside the Houses or an official by name or in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.

I welcome everybody, in particular members of the Irish Thoracic Society, Ms Suzanne McCormack, chief executive office, and Dr. Edward McKone, president. I understand that Ms McCormack will make the opening presentation and she has five minutes to do so.