Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Thank you. I thank the witnesses for their honesty. We are intercontinental this morning in more ways than one, with witnesses contributing remotely from abroad and describing their lived experiences in Australia as well. Throughout our committee work we have spoken about the lived experience of people with disabilities and their families.

It has been very powerful to hear Dr. Walsh and Ms Walsh and to hear of the advocacy groups' work behind the scenes. I know the effort that goes into trying to fight for facilities and rights. It is a never-ending issue. I thank Mr. Broadhead for joining us from Australia.

There is an ingrained attitude within some systems, and that attitude needs to change fundamentally to ensure adequate funding. We will follow up on the optional protocol and do whatever we can to ensure it is implemented as soon as possible rather than listening to any further excuses. I was struck by Dr. Walsh's and Ms Walsh's commentary on Galway versus Cork. Ireland is a small State yet we cannot have universal delivery within the country. We need to look at that. We have to challenge the CHOs individually to see why there is not conformity throughout the country in the delivery of the services. I deal with one of the service providers that span one of the CHOs, the south west and the mid-west, and they tell me there is a different attitude between the two. That is simply unacceptable.

The witnesses have been very honest about being able to provide the therapies privately because of their position. We need to challenge the HSE. I have heard of several cases in which people have left the private sector for a job in the HSE. They get frustrated by the HSE and go back to the private sector. I am talking about occupational therapy and speech and language therapy. People working in those fields say that if they go into the public sector, they have secure employment, but they have gone there, been at the coalface and experienced huge frustration and then they have left the sector and joined the private sector again because they get more job satisfaction and a sense that they are doing something with their training. We have to look at that and challenge it.

At this point in time do we have to see whether the HSE can buy the services of the private providers? A large number of private providers have set up play, speech and language and occupational therapy services. Is it a question of how we need to look at the HSE contract for those services? I do not see another solution in the short term. I see families coming to my office, as other members have said, looking for help, guidance and support, and I do not know what it is. I do not normally ask questions because I believe it is for the members to keep the ebb and flow of meetings but I will put one point to Dr. Walsh and Ms Walsh. They are getting services from private providers, and many of them are excellent and dedicated to their job beyond words. Is this something that should be looked at? It is only a commentary. I am thinking of Dr. Walsh and Ms Walsh as having the lived experience and being at the coalface of trying to deliver services for their daughter.