The first item on the agenda is the election of a Chairman. I invite nominations for the position of Chairman of the joint committee.
Election of Chairman
Clerk to the Committee
I propose Deputy Denis Naughten.
I second that proposal.
Clerk to the Committee
As there are no other nominations, I declare Deputy Denis Naughten Chairman of the committee and I invite him to take the Chair.
Deputy Denis Naughten took the Chair.
I thank members of the committee for electing me Chairman. It is a great honour to be elected Chair of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children. I thank my proposer, Deputy Catherine Byrne, and seconder, Deputy Eamonn Maloney, and Senators and Deputies for electing me Chairman.
I welcome members, many of whom are new Members to the Oireachtas. I thank the clerk to the committee, Ms Patricia Doran, and the committee secretariat, and the many other support staff involved in operating the committee. Both the staff and I intend to work with each committee member in a genuine spirit of partnership and co-operation to help fulfil their objectives. I will act at all times to benefit all members in a non-political and non-partisan manner and intend to ensure the business of the committee is conducted in an open and transparent manner. I pay tribute to the members of the former Joint Committee on Health and Children, a number of whom have been elevated to Cabinet.
The Joint Committee on Health and Children's major functions are to ensure the accountability of the Departments and agencies under its control and to review and make policy proposals. We live in a challenging time and, potentially, one in which there will be significant reform in both health and children services. I will ensure everyone's ideas on reform will be heard. The former committee had the Health Service Executive, HSE, and the Minister for Health and Children appear before it at quarterly intervals. I intend to continue this practice, subject to the views of committee members. I also want the various groupings and their respective Whips to decide which issues they want prioritised during the committee's term.
The committee should not only look at the challenges of today and the need for reform but also look at what can be put in train today that has a medium and long-term impact. We must halt the consultant-centred focus to problems in our health service and, instead, turn the system on its head to examine the pathway of care from the patients' perspective, thereby making it smoother and more accessible and less complicated and subject to delays. I look forward to working with all members in setting the agenda rather than following someone else's, an approach I believe will benefit both the communities we represent and the country.
ELECTION OF VICE CHAIRMAN
The second item on the agenda is the election of a vice chairperson. I invite nominations for this position.
I propose Deputy Ciara Conway.
I second that.
I congratulate Deputy Denis Naughten on his election and I have no doubt he will make an excellent Chair.
It is important the committee works in a co-operative way and that there is equality of respect for views between the Government and the Opposition. I propose Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin who has an outstanding and long-track record of working in the health and children portfolio on behalf of Sinn Féin. He has well-grounded and imaginative proposals for the improvement of the health services. I make this nomination in the interest of joint working and equality of respect of views.
I second the nomination.
There are two nominations. As a division has been called in the Dáil, I propose we suspend the meeting.
Sitting suspended at 12.10 p.m. and resumed at 12.45 p.m.
As there is more than one nomination for the position of Vice Chairman, I will deal with the nominations in the order in which I received them. Is it agreed that Deputy Conway be appointed Vice Chairman of the committee?
Vótáil.
Vótáil.
As fewer than 22 members are present, under Standing Orders we are obliged to wait eight minutes or until the full membership is present, whichever is the earliest, before we can proceed with taking the division. The bells will now ring for four minutes.
Question put: "That Deputy Conway be appointed Vice Chairman of the committee."
The Committee divided: Tá, 15; Níl, 3.
Tá
- Burke, Colm.
- Buttimer, Jerry.
- Byrne, Catherine.
- Conway, Ciara.
- Crown, John.
- Doherty, Regina.
- Dowds, Robert.
- Fitzpatrick, Peter.
- Gilroy, John.
- Henry, Imelda.
- Keating, Derek.
- Maloney, Eamonn.
- McGrath, Mattie.
- Naughten, Denis.
- van Turnhout, Jillian.
Níl
- Colreavy, Michael.
- Healy, Seamus.
- Ó Caoláin, Caoimhghín.
Question declared carried.
I declare Deputy Conway elected Vice Chairman. The joint committee will now go into private session to deal with some housekeeping issues. Is that agreed? Agreed.
The joint committee went into private session at 12.55 p.m. and adjourned at 1.55 p.m. sine die.