Michael Harty (Clare, Independent)
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We will hear first from the Connolly For Kids Hospital Group which has been invited here to air its views on the suitability of the St. James's campus as a location for the new national paediatric hospital. On behalf of the committee I welcome Ms Valerin O'Shea, group chairperson, Dr. Jimmy Sheehan, orthopaedic surgeon and hospital developer, Dr. Finn Breathnach, children's cancer specialist, retired; Dr. Eamonn Faller, ex child patient and non-consultant hospital doctor; Ms Aisling McNiffe, parent representative and Dr. Róisín Healy, retired children's emergency medicine specialist of the Connolly for Kids Hospital Group.

While the committee has no function in choosing the location of the hospital which has already been decided, we welcome the opportunity to engage with the Connolly for Kids Hospital group and the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board to hear their views on the Cabinet decision to locate the hospital on the site of St. James's Hospital. In 2012 the then Cabinet agreed to build the hospital on the site of St James's Hospital and planning permission was granted in May this year. Site clearance has commenced and final construction contracts will be signed in the near future.

There has always been agreement that a purpose-built and dedicated hospital for children is a necessary component of a fully functioning health service. The debate, however, has centred on its location. The national paediatric hospital will be the largest infrastructural development in the health service. It will provide essential specialist services for all children in Ireland at a single location and co-located with an adult teaching hospital and a future maternity hospital when the Coombe Women & Infants University Hospital is relocated to the site.

By virtue of section 17(2)(l) of the Defamation Act 2009, witnesses are protected by absolute privilege in respect of the evidence they are to give to the committee. If, however, they are directed by it to cease giving evidence on a particular matter and continue to so do, they are entitled thereafter only to qualified privilege in respect of thier evidence. They are directed that only evidence connected with the subject matter of these proceedings is to be given and asked to respect the parliamentary practice to the effect that, where possible, they should not criticise or make charges against any person or an entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable. Any submission or opening statement submitted to the committee may be published on its website after the meeting.

Members are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice to the effect that they should not comment on, criticise or make charges against a person outside the Houses or an official, either by name in such a way as to make him or her identifiable.

I ask Ms O'Shea to make the opening statement on behalf of Connolly for Kids Hospital.