Oireachtas Joint and Select Committees

Wednesday, 2 March 2022

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health

South Kerry Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services: HSE

Photo of Seán CroweSeán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Apologies have been received from Deputy Cullinane, who will substituted by Deputy Daly, and from Deputy Gino Kenny who will be substituted by Deputy Bríd Smith.

I will deal with an item of housekeeping before I introduce the witnesses. Draft copies of the minutes of the private meetings of 8 and 15 February 2022 have been circulated to members. Are they agreed to? Agreed.

Ba maith liom fáilte a chur roimh na finnéithe atá anseo le linn inniu. Today the committee will meet with representatives from the HSE on the governance and clinical oversight of child and adolescent mental health services, CAMHS, in Kerry. From the HSE, cuirim fáilte roimh Ms Anne O’Connor, chief operations officer; Mr. Jim Ryan, head of operations, mental health services; Mr. Michael Fitzgerald, chief officer for Cork-Kerry community healthcare organisation; Dr. Maura Young, executive clinical director, Kerry CAMHS; and Dr. Amanda Burke, executive clinical director, mental health services.

Witnesses are reminded of the long-standing parliamentary practice that they should not criticise or make charges against any person or entity by name or in such a way as to make him, her or it identifiable, or otherwise engage in speech that may be regarded as damaging to the good name of the person or entity. Therefore, if their statements are potentially defamatory in relation to an identifiable person or entity, they will be directed to discontinue their remarks. It is imperative they comply with any such direction. I call Ms O’Connor to make her opening remarks.