Statement from the Minister for Health on Children's Health Ireland
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From: Department of Health
- Published on: 24 September 2025
- Last updated on: 24 September 2025
The Minister for Health, Dr Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, has appointed Dr Yvonne Traynor as Chairperson of the Children’s Health Ireland (CHI) Board. She has also appointed two additional Board members, Fergus Finlay and Suzanne Garvey, to the Board of CHI.
Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill said
“I extend my thanks to the current board members for their ongoing commitment to the work of the Board. In particular, Mary O’Donovan who has performed the role of acting Chairperson over the past number of months, a role she has performed with great dedication and commitment.”
The Minister is today confirming her intention to now fully integrate Children’s Health Ireland into the Health Service Executive (HSE).
Minister Carroll MacNeill said:
“For some months now, I have reflected on the governance structures that make up our health care services, conscious of both the size of our country and the ever-evolving need for health care to be integrated across acute and community settings.
“As we move towards the opening of the National Children’s Hospital Ireland, we need to plan for integrated paediatric healthcare and the policy direction for Children’s Health Ireland.
“The National Children’s Hospital Ireland will be the central hub in the network of paediatric care with links to regional paediatric units, operated overwhelmingly by the HSE. Accordingly, I have decided to integrate CHI into the HSE structure.
“The background of CHI was the integration of three very different paediatric hospitals with a view to moving to a single dedicated specialist paediatric hospital. We are very close to that hospital being delivered and operational and it is therefore time to further integrate paediatric care formally into the HSE.”
Board Transition
The Minister’s appointments of Dr Yvonne Traynor, Suzanne Garvey and Fergus Finlay are in line with a clear focus on commissioning the National Children’s Hospital Ireland and increasing operational integration and synergy across paediatric and adult healthcare services.
Dr Traynor has been a member of the HSE Board since 2019.
Fergus Finlay is a former HSE Board member and former CEO of Barnardos.
Suzanne Garvey has over 40 years’ experience, most recently as Director of Nursing and Director of Clinical Hospital Operations in the Beacon Hospital.
These Board appointments complement those made earlier in the year which consisted of the appointment of the three board members of the HSE - Dr Traynor, Anne Carrigy and Tim Hynes - and the appointment of a board member of the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board, Alan Seabourne.
Minister Carroll MacNeill said:
“I am grateful to Dr Traynor, Mr Finlay, and Ms Garvey for accepting these positions on the Board of CHI. Their expertise and commitment will be central to the commissioning and opening of the National Children’s Hospital Ireland.”
Transition Process
Minister Carroll MacNeill continued:
“The most important thing for any young person in the care of CHI or for a parent of child in the care of CHI is that this transition will not impact on your day-to-day care. This is a steady process that began with the appointment of some HSE Board members, is confirmed today and will transition both operationally and legislatively with implementation in 2027.
“What I want to ensure is the quality and continuity of care provided to our children and the opening of what will be a transformative children’s hospital
“For our wonderful staff in CHI, who are working so hard every day to provide excellent care to our children, I want to say to you that we enormously value you and your contribution to paediatric care. We are working to support you in your work and towards the new National Children’s Hospital Ireland.”
Notes to Editors:
Biographies of Board appointees
Dr Yvonne Traynor
Dr Traynor was vice president of Regulatory & Scientific Affairs with Kerry Group. Prior to that, she held a number of global and regional leadership positions with German consumer goods company, Henkel.
Dr Traynor has a particular interest in organisational transformation, risk management and delivering excellent customer experience. Dr Traynor holds a PhD in Chemistry from Trinity College Dublin which, notably, resulted in a patent for the Nicotine Patch, as an aid for smoking cessation. Later, she obtained a Certified Diploma in Accounting and Finance and an MSc. in Executive Leadership. She is also a chartered director and has several years board experience, including the role of Chairperson of the audit, risk and compliance committee of the Irish Blood Transfusion Service (IBTS).
Yvonne has been a member of the Health Service Executive (HSE) Board since 28 June 2019.
Suzanne Garvey
Ms Garvey has 42 years’ experience as a healthcare professional, strategist, and is operationally skilled at maximising inputs, outputs, and efficiencies while being recognised for prioritising patient and staff safety. She has extensive experience with healthcare setups and frameworks (Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Ireland).
As Director of Nursing/Director Clinical Hospital Operations in the Beacon Hospital she led out for 18 years, working collaboratively with team members, to deliver a full service acute care hospital from a building site to a 181 inpatient facility with a staff of 1350 (2023).
She has wide ranging experience in managing and overseeing Corporate Governance programmes and ensuring compliance across organisations, working closely with all stakeholders. She led and steered all components of a comprehensive Risk management, quality, patient safety and patient satisfaction/ complaint programme. This included leading the Joint Commission International Accreditation programmes triennially (2007 2022).
Fergus Finlay
Fergus Finlay was Chief Executive of Barnardos for thirteen years from 2005 until his retirement in October 2018. Under his leadership, Barnardos became Ireland’s largest and most effective children’s charity. As CEO he was responsible for an annual budget of €25 million and led a staff team of more than 400 qualified and committed people.
He was a director of WHPR, one of Ireland’s largest public relations firms, from 1999 until 2002. He was for a number of years the Chair of Special Olympics Ireland and was a leading member of the group that brought the Special Olympic World Games to Ireland in 2003.
Fergus was awarded a Human Rights Award by the French Embassy in Dublin in 2013 to recognise the work of Barnardos with Ireland’s children. He was also honoured by UCC as an Outstanding Alumnus in 2016, and in 2019 was granted an Honorary Doctorate by NUIG. He has been a life-long campaigner for the rights of people with disabilities and for seven years chaired a government task force to implement a comprehensive employment strategy for people with disabilities.
For many years he has been Chair of the Dolphin House Regeneration Board, which is overseeing one of the largest regenerations in the city, involving new and high quality accommodation for 400 families, new community facilities, and a purpose-built senior citizens complex.