Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

It is sometimes fun to go through the new legislative programme at the beginning of the parliamentary year to discover which Bills have fallen backward, moved forward or remained in the same position. Section A lists Bills that are expected to be brought forward this term, while section B includes those Bills for which the heads have been agreed. In the last session, the then Minister for Health promised that the national paediatric hospital development board (amendment) Bill would be forthcoming in that session, the same undertaking having been given in previous sessions. Now we see that the legislation has moved to section C on the legislative programme. The announcement by the Government at the beginning of its term in office of its intention to proceed with the establishment of a national children's hospital was welcome. The question is why there is this delay in putting together a legislative framework for the development board, which is already in place? Why is it not possible to indicate at this stage when that Bill will be published? It should be one of the priority Bills, given that it is concerned with underwriting a huge investment by the State in paediatric services.

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