Joint Committee on Public Petitions and the Ombudsmen to resume discussion of ‘Lil Reds Legacy Sepsis Awareness Campaign’ petition with representatives of the HSE

The meeting at 1.30pm in Committee Room 4 of Leinster House will hear from representatives of the from Health Service Executive (HSE):

• Dr Orla Healy, National Clinical Director for Quality and Patient Safety;
• Dr Michael O’Dwyer, National Clinical Lead for the Sepsis Programme; and
• Dr Ciara Martin, National Clinical Advisor and Group Lead for Children and Young People.

Committee Cathaoirleach Deputy Martin Browne said: “This petition seeks to raise greater awareness of sepsis, a deadly condition which five years ago tragically claimed the life of 15-year-old Sean Hughes, a talented young rap artist known as ‘Lil Red’. The Committee previously met with Sean’s father, Joseph, and the Irish Sepsis Foundation to discuss this petition, which is asking the Minister for Health and the HSE to produce and fund a national television and radio campaign to increase awareness of sepsis, a ‘silent killer’.

“Last year the Committee heard from the HSE regarding its National Clinical Programme for Sepsis and plans to increase knowledge around the signs and symptoms of sepsis. Members welcome the opportunity to for an update on progress made over the last 12 months. We looks forward to discussing with Dr Healy and her colleagues details of the HSE’s new sepsis awareness campaign launched last month on national and regional media and on social media, and related matters.”

The Committee will also consider the following petitions:

• Public Petition Number P00024/23 ‘Electric Scooter Safety, Standards and Requirements’ (resumed);
• Public Petition Number P00045/23 ‘Accept our cash’ (resumed);
• Public Petition Number P00020/24 ‘Make unlawfully killing a pet an offence akin to murder, not criminal damage’;
• Public Petition Number P00032/24 ‘Implement Immediate Flood Protection Measures in all East Cork Catchments’.

The Joint Committee on Public Petitions and the Ombudsmen is a standing Committee of the Houses of the Oireachtas and has 11 Members, seven from the Dáil and four from the Seanad.

The meeting in the Committee Room 4 can be viewed live on Oireachtas TV.

Committee proceedings can also be viewed on the Houses of the Oireachtas Smartphone App, available for Apple and Android devices.