Tánaiste: Resignation of CHI chief will not delay children's hospital
Jennifer Whitmore of the Social Democrats said Ms Murphy's resignation to take up another role raises 'very serious questions' about the management and staffing of the hospital.
The resignation of the interim chief executive of Children's Health Ireland (CHI) will not further delay the opening of the National Children's Hospital, the Tánaiste has insisted.
Micheál Martin has denied that the departure of Fiona Murphy will impact the opening of the hospital after members of the opposition raised serious concerns around the lack of staffing plans for the new facility.
Asked about the resignation, Mr Martin said: "Those are personnel issues and I think that matter will be dealt with in the normal course of events."
Jennifer Whitmore of the Social Democrats said Ms Murphy's resignation to take up another role raises "very serious questions" about the management and staffing of the hospital.
"What we've seen to date is Government, as they often do, pointing the finger and blaming others, such as BAM when it comes to problems with the Children's Hospital, this is 100% on their watch, not having a person responsible for the transfer of the three children's hospitals and other functions is completely unacceptable, and it is 100% government's responsibility.
"So they need to come out, they need to answer questions about this, and they need to make sure that there is someone that is tasked with that job, because it is far too important a job to let it go," she said.
Sinn Féin's Louise O'Reilly said a funded workforce plan is "entirely absent" from the outgoing Government and the resignation will only compound matters.
"This entire project, the Children's Hospital project, has been beset by a complete, total and utter absence of leadership.
"The simple fact is that, and I have spoken to the INMO in relation to this, there is a failure to plan for the staffing of this hospital, which is putting in jeopardy every single date that they have put down.
Ms O'Reilly added:
Ms Murphy was appointed interim CEO earlier this year after it was decided not to appoint Eilish Hardiman for another term as she had already served two terms.
Hardiman had led CHI since it was established in 2018, but was moved by Mr Donnelly in April to a new Strategic Programme Director role in the organisation.
Raising concerns that CHI now has a key role vacant at a critical time in the development of the hospital, Ms Whitmore said: "What we don't want to see is that it's an empty shell, and there's actually no one working in there, because that planning hasn't happened."
