Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)

The Government prioritises getting the banking system right. This is obviously a priority for an economy. However, must it not also be a Government priority that sick children should not wait for an improvement in the system at some point in the future? Five years down the road, the improvements that were supposed to come about because of the HSE have not been implemented. If this is the type of timescale in question, it is unfortunate that the sick children who need treatment today will not be able to benefit.

I congratulate Fine Gael on tabling this motion, as the debate is important. However, the Government's response has been cold and defensive and it has not addressed in a humane way the problems being experienced by the children's parents.

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