Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It is not an issue of shame. All of us in Ireland and in this society should be ashamed that children have to wait such a prolonged period for operations.

Sadly, this is a problem that exists for as long as I can remember. When I was a medical student, there were long waits for scoliosis surgery. I believe Deputy Micheál Martin was the Minister for Health and Children at that particular time. The waiting lists might not have been as long as they are now but they certainly were very long.

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