Catherine Ardagh (Dublin South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

We know about all of governance irregularities and clinical discrepancies at CHI and as my colleague pointed out earlier it is the child and their family who are at the centre of it. We are here today trying to disclose facts. We are not trying to prosecute. However, it is important the families remain our sole motivator to ensure that children get the best care possible and that the taxpayer does not overpay. It is important that staff in CHI and other hospitals work in environments that are transparent, well-run and fair to them. That has to be the core mission for Ms Nugent and her team. We are going to see a move to the new hospital soon. It is a really big project. It is one of the biggest projects ever undertaken by the HSE. It is a huge amount of work for the CHI team. The public wants to ensure there is transparency and as politicians we also want to see transparency. Ideally we will not have to ask representatives from CHI in again because of something we have read in the newspaper. We do not like working reactively. We like to have a work programme. It is unfortunate that we had to ask it in again but we are happy that the witnesses have co-operated with us and have come in again. It is the children and families who have to be at the centre of what we do and everything the CHI does. If any of the witnesses from CHI wish to comment, I would be grateful.