Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour) | Oireachtas source

-----on the kind of manifesto and vague promises those in Sinn Féin have put forward. I believe that is a risk many families are simply not prepared to take.

Specifically with regard to scoliosis, I discussed this at length with a number of Independent Deputies in recent months. Scoliosis is a very difficult condition that is particularly difficult as children grow and as they approach and pass puberty. It is for that reason that significant additional resources have been put into the scoliosis services in Ireland, for which the lead hospital is Our Lady's Hospital in Crumlin. While the waiting times have to be brought down further, we have the money to invest in that and we have the money to invest in an extra surgical theatre in Crumlin for scoliosis, which will be opened in April. Last year, an extra 100 operations were undertaken in regard to scoliosis to bring the waiting times down.

All of that is out of the fruit of people's hard work and economic growth. The Deputy is suggesting that we would put all of our recovery and economic growth, and put this country and economy, into the hands of Sinn Féin. I thank her not, and I do not think the voters will thank her either.

See this speech in context