Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank all Teachtaí Dála who took part in this important debate. It is important not just for us to state here that this issue is a priority, but that people outside know it is a priority for us.

We welcome that there is broad cross-party support for the motion. However, we must be cognisant of the fact that the Minister of State, Deputy Finian McGrath, has just uttered words that will strike fear into the hearts of those who have been battling in this area.

I am sure that was not his intention.

These children and their families need a date. They need to know that it will not be subject to the budgetary process and that the legislation is on its way. We have the legislation. I would not claim to be a master draughtsperson but it is very simple legislation. We have it and are more than willing to provide it. I raised this issue with the Taoiseach on the Order of Business on 31 May and his response was that legislation was not needed. It is great that the Government is acknowledging that legislation is needed and I am telling it that we have the legislation. As Deputy Kelly pointed out, it is possible to set the wheels in motion, put a date in place and ensure that we can give those families certainty so we are pressing the Ministers of State to give us a date and not to say that it will be subject to the budgetary process, the outcome of another review or a further delay because these families have been let down many times. The Minister of State, Deputy Finian McGrath, knows this because he knows children's health campaigners well. They have had many false dawns and they do not need another one. If there is cross-party support in this House, it is very simple. The legislation will sail through. The legislation is ready and enjoys cross-party support. I know we are about to rise for the recess but it is still possible for work to be done on this legislation even though we are not here. We know this and we know it can be done.

The misuse of drugs legislation will finish its passage through the House this week and will go to Áras an Uachtaráin to be signed by the President. That legislation was a priority. It was something that An Garda Síochána looked for. While we had some misgivings about it, we supported it and there was broad support in the House for it. It is on its way to Áras an Uachtaráin this week to be signed by the President. An Garda Síochána knows that if it asks for something, the Minister delivers and that is good but the Minister for Health and the Ministers of State who are here need to deliver for the families of children with severe and life-limiting conditions. It is very simple.

The Government has given the commitment, which is very welcome. It is supporting our motion and that is very welcome. The cross-party support for our motion is very welcome but the Ministers of State know that what we need is a date and some certainty. I know some families are following this debate. If they are on a discretionary medical card, they go to bed every night terrified that this medical card will be taken off them so we are going to press the Ministers of State for a date. We are going to press them to put some definable goals in place and to give certainty to those families who will go to sleep worried. We are going to press them because cases like that of baby Réaltín should not happen - not in a civilised society. I hope that because I have raised the case of baby Réaltín on the floor of the House that it might herald some action for this individual case but we cannot do that every time we have an issue like this. This is why the legislation and the certainty are needed. I have met these families, as have the Ministers of State. We know these people. They are people in our communities who come to us for help and are dealt with on an individual basis. That is not right. At at time in their lives when they least need to battle the system, it is an endless round of form filling, appeals and denials of application. That is not right. We know it is not right. There is cross-party support for our motion because we all know it is not right. We are going to press the Minister and Ministers of State to give us a date by which these families can know. It is not good enough in case anyone thinks it is to come in here and tell us that it will be subject to the budgetary process because these people have been subject to enough already.

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