Frank O'Rourke (Kildare North, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I appreciate the opportunity to attend this meeting of the committee as I am not a member of it. I welcome the witnesses. They have made an excellent presentation, much of which I did not hear because I was doing a radio, so my apologies for that. Many of my concerns about this issue have been raised by others. The witnesses must be commended on their campaign, highlighting the concerns about this issue of the 60,000 who have signed the petition and those of many more. They make a compelling and staggering argument for the Connolly Hospital site. Having listened to what I heard of their presentation and their answers to my colleagues' questions, it is disappointing and extraordinary that nobody - from the Taoiseach's office or the offices of the Minister, Deputy Harris or the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Deputy Zappone - has offered to meet them. That is disappointing. If nothing else, they should be afforded the opportunity to put forward their argument and points in order that their case can be evaluated properly in the course of a democracy. That is very disappointing.

I have three brief questions.

What, in their view, if they do not feel they have dealt with it compellingly already, is the justification for the St. James's site and not the Connolly site, which was the decision taken by Cabinet and Government, the planning authority and also by An Bord Pleanála? What, in their view, is the best practice in other countries and jurisdictions with centres of excellence for children and how does what is being offered compare with that? Have they been offered an opportunity to debate their concerns with the advocates for the St. James's site in order that they can have a formal discussion rather than hearing one side on one occasion and another side on another? I wish to get their views on those.