Kathleen Funchion (Carlow-Kilkenny, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State and welcome her commitment. As she will know, having watched or listened to these meetings over the past few weeks the stories told here have been heartbreaking. It was not just in this committee room that we heard such stories because we have all experience in dealing with people in these situations and we all want to find a solution. Therefore, we, as a committee, welcome the opportunity to engage further with the Minister of State. We are on board with doing anything we can to further such provision for these children and their families. I welcome the monthly meetings and the fact that they will continue. I thank the Minister of State and her officials, Ms Jenny Anderson and Mr. Noel Byrne, for appearing via video link. We look forward to an ongoing engagement with the Minister of State. Is it agreed that we publish the Minister of State's opening statement? Agreed.

As this is our last meeting before Christmas, I wish everybody a happy Christmas and thank everybody, the members and the secretariat for all of the work that they have done. This year it has been a lot more difficult than normal to organise meetings due to the arrangements that must be observed to prevent the spread of Covid, including only having two hours for a meeting. Thankfully, the arrangements have worked well so far. I wish everybody, the Minister of State and her staff a very happy Christmas.