Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Thursday, 17 December 2015

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children

Acute Hospital Services: Discussion

11:15 am

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

Apologies have been received from Deputies Ciara Conway, Billy Kelleher and Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin.

Before we begin the main discussion, on my own behalf and that of the joint committee, I pay tribute to and congratulate Mr. Geoffrey Shannon on his appointment as a judge. As members know, he is the Special Rapporteur on Child Protection, as well as chairman of the Adoption Authority of Ireland. He has been an eminent spokesperson for and advocate on behalf of children. I formally congratulate and thank him for the work he has done and his courtesy and co-operation with us. He will be a huge loss to the committee, but we wish him well in his new career. I propose that we write to him to congratulate him. Is that agreed? Agreed.

This is the first of a number of meetings we will have, if we are back in the new year, that is, on the reconfiguration of acute hospital services. This morning it is the turn of acute hospital services in Cork and Kerry. One of the key aspects of the reform of the health service is the streamlining of services at group level. I welcome Mr. Michael O'Flynn, former chairman of the non-executive advisory board that produced a comprehensive report on the reconfiguration of acute hospital services in Cork and Kerry. He is joined by Professor John Higgins, a former director of acute hospital services in Cork and Kerry, who has also been very prominent and is one of the major drivers of health service reform in the region. We are also joined by Mr. Gerry O'Dwyer, chief executive officer of the South/South West Hospitals Group. All of our guests are welcome and I thank them for being here.

I wish to advise members and witnesses that by virtue of section 17(2)(l) of the Defamation Act 2009, witnesses are protected by absolute privilege in respect of their evidence to the committee. However, if they are directed by it to cease giving evidence on a particular matter and they continue to so do, they are entitled thereafter only to 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 are asked to respect the parliamentary practice to the effect that, where possible, they should not comment on, criticise or make charges against any person 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 ruling of the Chair to the effect 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 invite Mr. O'Flynn to make his opening remarks.

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