Ms Doireann O'Mahony:

I hope that everyone now appreciates that sepsis does not discriminate. Anybody can develop sepsis at any time. That is why it is so important that we are here today and why we continue to highlight the time-dependent nature of this deadly condition.

Conor is considered by many to have been one of the lucky ones. In certain ways he is but that is also why his experience, strength and hope is something that we all need to listen to and hear about. We believe that the HSE must not only to listen to survivors and bereaved people but really hear what they have to say. Listening to them is often the only thing required to help someone. We implore the HSE to do the following: pay attention; show that it is listening; defer judgment and respond appropriately. The response is the most important. We owe it to anyone who has been directly and indirectly affected by sepsis to do better. We believe that it is only by having proper risk management strategies throughout Ireland's hospitals that there will be any meaningful change and lessons learned. It is only through that we drive down the rate of mortality and morbidity from sepsis.

Finally, I thank the committee for the opportunity to be here.