Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I only relay to the House information given to me that I believe to be factually correct. I am told that two hospitals, one in Germany and one in the UK, have signed their contracts and have begun reviewing patient files with a view to commencing treatment in October 2017 for those families taking up the offer of surgery in overseas hospitals. That is the information that has been made available to me as recently as today.

When I said last year, following the RTÉ programme on waiting lists, that I was ashamed of the way we treated these patients, I meant it. I mean it now and we have to get on top of it. We are making good progress and in fairness, Deputy O'Reilly has acknowledged some of the progress that has been made. The goal here is that the HSE is working to make sure that no child waits over four months. It is not easy because we are dependent on outsourcing overseas-----

See this speech in context