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

I thank Ms Gibbons for her enlightened engagement with the committee. She came before us with a strong professional background and from her opening remarks and her engagement it is clear that her appointment is the correct decision. She has reaffirmed that by her engagement with the committee this afternoon. I thank her sincerely for that.

I join Ms Gibbons in saluting the bravery of those witnesses who met with the Commission of Inquiry into Child Abuse. Ms Gibbons was right to highlight that they were brave in helping to shed light on an awful period in our history. That was one of the most important parts of her engagement with the committee. Her views were refreshing and I was struck by the fact that she has the best interests of the child and the family at heart and that this is central to everything she does. I acknowledge also the role of the staff who work with children across our State. We are all conscious of their workload and the changing background of the work they do but with Ms Gibbons as chairperson of the child and family agency, it is off to a very good start.

That concludes our engagement with the chairperson designate. Is it agreed that we will inform the Minister that we have concluded our discussion with Ms Gibbons, that we found it to be very positive, and that we will forward a copy of the transcript of these proceedings to the Minister for her information? Agreed.

I thank all the witnesses. I again acknowledge the presence of Mr. Bill O'Dea, Mr. Gerard McKiernan, Ms Liz Canavan and also Ms Gibbons' daughter, Mairead. I thank the members for attending. I remind them that the committee will adjourn until 9.30 a.m. on Thursday for our quarterly meeting with the Minister for Health, the Ministers of State and the Health Service Executive.