Results 61-80 of 1,057,641 for in 'Dáil debates' OR (speaker:Michael McGrath OR speaker:Carol Nolan OR speaker:Seán Canney OR speaker:Niall Collins OR speaker:Willie O'Dea OR speaker:Claire Kerrane OR speaker:Stephen Donnelly OR speaker:Pat Buckley OR speaker:Jack Chambers OR speaker:Gino Kenny OR speaker:Noel Grealish OR speaker:Marian Harkin) in 'Committee meetings'
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: National Children’s Hospital: Discussion (9 Oct 2024)
Stephen Donnelly: Because we need to see the change. It is all well and good for me and the global chief executive to meet and commit to an improved approach to this, but I want to see the change. Ms Ross and I will be staying in regular contact. I want to see the change. I want to see a programme of work in which David Gunning, Fiona Ross and all the board, acting on our behalf, will be able to say that...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: National Children’s Hospital: Discussion (9 Oct 2024)
Gino Kenny: Has BAM said to the board it would commit to that work engagement, in terms of workers on site, etc? It was obvious from the board's critique that there are just not enough workers from BAM on site. None of the rooms have been signed over, which is not a great sign in terms of a structure like that.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: National Children’s Hospital: Discussion (9 Oct 2024)
Stephen Donnelly: Yes, that is exactly it. It has been a very open point of dispute between the board and the contractor on an ongoing basis.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: National Children’s Hospital: Discussion (9 Oct 2024)
Gino Kenny: Again, getting back to the commitments, what exact commitments did BAM give? It is an enormous and very profitable company. What did it say in terms of doing X, Y and Z to get the job finished by June 2025? What did it say to the Minister and board regarding what it is going to do?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: National Children’s Hospital: Discussion (9 Oct 2024)
Stephen Donnelly: I think three things are relevant to children being treated in this hospital. First, there was commitment to the commissioning teams going in early. That is something that had not been agreed and can accelerate the opening of this hospital, potentially by several months. That is important. I acknowledge that BAM has said it will facilitate this and make it happen. That had not been...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: National Children’s Hospital: Discussion (9 Oct 2024)
Gino Kenny: On a more positive note, when will the hospital be open to children? When will the first child go into the national children's hospital when it is complete? Is there a particular date if that deadline in June 2025 were to be met? Is there a possible timeframe in terms of when children will be cared for in what will be this amazing, though expensive, structure when it is finished?
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: National Children’s Hospital: Discussion (9 Oct 2024)
Stephen Donnelly: It is an extraordinary facility. I believe we need to keep a very clear focus on next year. If Royal BAM and BAM UK and Ireland can hand us the keys in June 2025, we have been consistently told by CHI that there is a minimum six-month commissioning phase. We are looking to accelerate some of that process. As the Deputy will appreciate, nobody can give a precise deadline, but I think we...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: National Children’s Hospital: Discussion (9 Oct 2024)
Gino Kenny: Realistically, then, it will probably be 2026 when we will-----
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: National Children’s Hospital: Discussion (9 Oct 2024)
Stephen Donnelly: I do not think we should be going there. I think we need to keep the focus very much on 2025.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: National Children’s Hospital: Discussion (9 Oct 2024)
Gino Kenny: It is realistic if things work to plan-----
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: National Children’s Hospital: Discussion (9 Oct 2024)
Stephen Donnelly: Well, they are telling us-----
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: National Children’s Hospital: Discussion (9 Oct 2024)
Gino Kenny: We all want to see the hospital open as soon as possible. Given the history of this build, though, logistically, we are probably looking at 2026 as the date when children will be there.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: National Children’s Hospital: Discussion (9 Oct 2024)
Stephen Donnelly: I appreciate where the Deputy is coming from-----
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: National Children’s Hospital: Discussion (9 Oct 2024)
Gino Kenny: I hope the Minister is right-----
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: National Children’s Hospital: Discussion (9 Oct 2024)
Stephen Donnelly: -----but it is very important that we do not start talking about 2026. It is extremely important that we keep talking about 2025. Armies of people are on site and involved in commissioning to that effect. Just before I ask Mr. Lynch to come in on this, I wish to acknowledge the workers on site.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: National Children’s Hospital: Discussion (9 Oct 2024)
Gino Kenny: Yes, grand.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: National Children’s Hospital: Discussion (9 Oct 2024)
Stephen Donnelly: Even though the project may be resourced at what we believe is half what it should be, nonetheless, a large number of very dedicated people are working day and night to build what looks like will be the finest children's hospital in the world. What an extraordinary thing that is for a little country like us to be saying. Those workers have been building the hospital in the context of huge...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: National Children’s Hospital: Discussion (9 Oct 2024)
Gino Kenny: I know that.
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: National Children’s Hospital: Discussion (9 Oct 2024)
Stephen Donnelly: -----and it is not their fault. I thank the Chair for his latitude on the time, so I acknowledge the women and men working on that site day in and day out, in winter and summer and in rain, hail, sleet and snow. I thank them for the work they are doing. They have been building this incredible facility for our nation and they have been doing it in a context where all they hear about,...
- Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health: National Children’s Hospital: Discussion (9 Oct 2024)
Gino Kenny: I second that.