Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

In an effort to be helpful, I accept that many of the Deputy's points are fair. She and I, as the Minister, as well as the committee need to have an assurance regarding how Children's Health Ireland now intends to inject that urgency.

I will ask Ms Eilísh Hardiman, the CEO of Children's Health Ireland to formally communicate with this committee in response to Deputy O' Reilly's very direct questions. The Deputy wants to know what is going to happen between now and the recruitment of a new consultant and how quickly that new consultant can be recruited. She also wants to know, crucially, about communication with each of the families on the clinical pathways.

It is my understanding that this committee has helpfully suggested that there should be hearings on mesh in January. In addition to the correspondence I sent to Mesh Survivors Ireland recently, it would be my intention to have clarity on those issues in advance of those hearings.