Ivana Bacik (Independent) | Oireachtas source

I am glad the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs will be in the House later. Colleagues, particularly Senator van Turnhout, sought this debate yesterday and I am glad we have been able to arrange a debate at such short notice on the pressing issue of child care standards following the broadcast of the "Prime Time" programme last Tuesday night. Colleagues will appreciate the opportunity to debate the best ways to ensure adequate supervision, inspection and monitoring of standards in child care facilities with the Minister. As I said yesterday on the Order of Business and as the Minister said in the Dáil, a Garda investigation as well as a HSE investigation are under way into the allegations that were made and the serious matters that arose in the documentary about the crèches inspected. Clearly, there are broader issues, which we will debate earlier.

I welcome the announcement earlier this week of the new site for the National Maternity Hospital by Dr. Rhona Mahony, the master of the hospital. The hospital, which is currently based at Holles Street, will move to a purpose-built facility on the St. Vincent's Hospital campus. It is welcome that we will have such greatly improved facilities to look after the health of women in pregnancy, mothers and their babies. Coupled with the new children's hospital to be built on the St. James's Hospital campus, we will experience a great improvement in the coming years in health services for women and children. The State will retain the site on Holles Street, which is also welcome.

I congratulate Trinity College Dublin on its hosting of the European Space Expo, which commences next week. Anyone who visits Front Square on the campus today or over the coming days will be greeted by an enormous exhibition centre. Exciting talks and exhibitions will take place within the Space Expo dome, including events for children. I encourage colleagues with spare time to visit it.