Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Tuesday, 16 December 2014

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children

Áras Attracta: HSE

9:35 pm

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

I will do that. This has been a very useful and necessary first step in our committee's journey. It is about the respect and dignity of our people who are citizens of our Republic and who, in many cases, are vulnerable and require the State to look after and take care of them. It is important that we recognise the value of a very committed workforce who have provided huge service, compassion and care and go far and beyond the call of duty in looking after many people we all know of in these situations. I acknowledge that we have and that we should have honest conversations with the family, the parents and the service users - the people themselves - who require the support of many organisations across the country. It is important today that we acknowledge there is a great deal of work being done and that there are deficits that we must fix.

I thank Pat Healy, Tony O'Brien, Marion Healy and Dr. Phillip Crowley for being here this evening. I thank the staff to my left who have been here since 5.30 p.m. and I also thank the men and women behind the glass for their service who have also been here since 5.30 p.m. I also thank the committee members and non-members for being here and members of the media who have stuck with us.

I remind members that we will be back at 10.30 a.m. tomorrow in the Audio Visual Room to launch a report on concussion in sport. I thank all the HSE staff and wish all the delegates and their staff and families a very happy and peaceful Christmas and a prosperous new year. They do trojan work. We appreciate there being here this evening as a voice and representative of the staff.

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