Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Before I ask my questions, it is important that we put on the record of the House our heartfelt sympathy for the Black family. Yvonne Black has been widowed and two young children have had their father taken from them by a heinous, callous crime. It behoves everyone in the House to reject out of hand the flawed philosophy of violence and murder, as it sullies the Irish flag and rejects the will of the Irish people as expressed in the Good Friday Agreement. I call on everyone to condemn this cowardly, murderous barbarity.

I missed the press conference, but I assume that St. James's Hospital has been announced as the selected site. Mr. Fergal Bowers brought it to our attention some time ago. Nevertheless, I welcome the announcement on the selection of a site for the national pediatric children's hospital. We fully support it. All parties have agreed that a children's hospital is required.

I wish to ask a few questions on this proposal. It has been indicated that the timeline will slip into 2017 or 2018. Could the House be given a definite timeline on when planning will begin? What resources and revenue streams will be required to fund the planning and construction phases? When does the Taoiseach envisage the project being completed?

In tandem with the development of the national pediatric hospital, there is a grave concern that the existing children's hospitals could be downgraded. Will the Taoiseach confirm that a funding stream will be put in place to ensure that, while we are awaiting the national hospital's construction, children's services in the other hospitals will not be diminished?

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