Kathleen Funchion (Carlow-Kilkenny, Sinn Fein)
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It is fantastic that we are having this meeting, and I thank the Co-Chairman, Deputy Moynihan, and the staff of both this committee and the children's committee for facilitating it. We are really hoping today that we can agree to an action plan with definite timeframes that can be adhered to. Families at this stage are sick of watching meetings such as this one and wondering whether things are ever going to change or whether they will ever get better for them. We want some definite action to arise from this meeting. I would also like a commitment from the HSE that it will fully engage with the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth on the issue and that there will not be any incidents of not having certain meetings in particular regions. That is really important and it needs to operate as a two-way street.

I advise all our guests that a number of us members are also members of the Joint Committee on International Surrogacy, which will sit at 11 a.m. today. Some of us, therefore, will be coming in and out of the meeting, but we very much look forward to hearing what the plan will be, not least in regard to deliverable timeframes for families.