Tom Clonan (Independent) | Oireachtas source

The challenge I have is not to get emotional in this discussion. Before I ask questions, I should say there is nothing personal in this. I know that each and every person here is a good person who is trying to do their best but collectively, ladies and gentlemen, something has gone terribly wrong. It is a scandal of international dimensions.

This report, which CHI has not published, is absolutely shocking. My son had spinal surgery in Temple Street hospital in 2018. If I had known about the contents of this report, I would not have given consent. This report shows that CHI is operating a three-ring circus. The language used in the report refers to a toxic and broken culture and abhorrent work practices. Let me be clear: the rogue consultant narrative CHI is relying upon is only a symptom of the problem. It is stated over and over again in the report that the problem lies with the senior leadership team - the executive and the board. They are the problem and they must take collective responsibility for that. Will they take collective responsibility for that?

In the conclusion of the report it states that "a substantial and persistent message of concern" over apathy regarding the lack of management, leadership and good governance "along with poor operational oversight and accountability" came through very strongly during the examination. It refers to a lack of trust in leadership in being able to adequately challenge and address the issues raised in this report, which CHI is refusing to release.

My next question is for Dr. Henry and I am sorry to have to address it to him. Bearing in mind the contents of this report and these conclusions, does he have confidence in the senior leadership team and the board, which have presided over all of this harm, to transition three children's hospitals into CHI? I do not. I would not allow my child to be treated in the environment that is set out and described in the report. I am sorry to say that I am not at all reassured by the witnesses' responses. "Sorry" does not cut it. I put it to Dr. Goldman and Dr. Okafor that when I was in with this committee and I described the circumstances of my son's surgery, how late it was and how unnecessarily traumatising it was, the doctors were aware of all of this and they did not inform the committee of the risk factors involved. I am, therefore, not convinced that they are fully open and invested in open disclosure. It is clearly not the case. Do the witnesses accept responsibility for this? I do not want an apology. Do they have confidence, having heard what is in these reports? If they were running Tayto Park, I would not let my children go there. I will be as frank as that.

Who is doing CHI's public relations and crisis communications? What company does CHI employ to do its crisis communications, public affairs and public relations? How much of our taxpayers' money is CHI paying them?

I have a few more questions. In this report there is a very alarming issue around the urological wait list. There is a cohort of patients known as the Crumlin orphans who are not receiving treatment from a urological surgeon with higher specialist training for the transitional pathway treatments that they need. That is absolutely extraordinary. These are children who need surgical procedures, which are routine in other jurisdictions, on their little penises and on the reproductive organs of teenage girls and teenage boys. According to the report, those children are reaching the transitional pathway to adult services. How many of those children have become infertile due to a lack of surgical intervention?

If someone goes into a bathroom and accidentally switches on the fan when they meant to turn on the light, that is a mistake. This, however, is a systematic and systemic failing of these children on the urology wait list. I raised this several times in the Seanad last year and the Minister refused to come into the Seanad for my Commencement matters. It was reported by some of our journalist colleagues here. I am absolutely shocked to think that we have de facto sterilisation of disabled children in this country. That is shameful. It is an international scandal of proportions that I struggle to find the vocabulary to describe. How many children have become infertile and how many children's reproductive capacities have been compromised due to a lack of timely surgical intervention?

The other question I have relates to other reports that are buried and that have not been published. I ask CHI to give an undertaking to furnish me, by way of the committee, with the Dixon report - I am not finished - and the other reports that have been mentioned. How can I or any of the parents here give informed consent for their children to be treated by CHI if we do not have the full facts about the actual circumstances and the risk factors CHI presides over? Let me be clear: the representatives as a board and as senior leadership - and they are very highly remunerated and have competed to be in their positions - can delegate authority but they cannot delegate responsibility. They are responsible personally, individually and collectively for everything that happens or fails to happen on their watch, and saying "it was like that when I got here" is not a defence.