Pat Buckley (Cork East, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I am a substitute on that committee. My feeling is that the Committee on Health would prefer it if the Committee on Public Petitions took this because it was referred to it. Given the amount of work the Committee on Health takes on at the moment, it feels it is more appropriate for us. Our committee is a listening committee, to go back to what Senator Craughwell said. It is supposed to be the most easily accessible committee that every Irish citizen can access. If they have concerns, fears and worries and they feel they are not getting anywhere, we should afford them the chance to be listened to.

We should afford them the chance to speak. If it does advance from that and the Chairman feels that it is beyond our grasp or that we are out of our depth and it is a major health issue, we can then refer it to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health. That recommendation can sit in limbo for three months and then be referred back to us. At least this way, we are addressing it.

In terms of background information on the Owenacurra centre, it is a very urgent matter and we do not have time to let it go. That is my opinion. This is a nice committee and we agree to disagree at times but it is the only committee through which we can collectively bargain on behalf of the citizen and not for our own kudos.