Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

If the Taoiseach is honest, he will admit the only reason progress was made was because the Government was shamed into it by television programmes and ones on RTE in particular, which highlighter earlier this year the long waiting times for young people with scoliosis in particular. It took that kind of media profile to get action from the Government because in 2014, 2015 and 2016 the resources were not provided and the scoliosis waiting lists were allowed to grow far too long. Parents will say that whoever gets on the media gets a better chance of getting an operation which is obviously not the route to take. The Government had to be dragged kicking and screaming to adopt the National Treatment Purchase Fund as a strategy to reduce waiting times. It is belated and has been too slow in implementation.

On the scoliosis question, it is the Minister for Health who is responsible to ensure this happens. The Taoiseach cannot keep passing the buck and trying to detach himself and the Government from the reality on the ground as it affects young children's health and, crucially, their outcomes. We want an optimal outcome for these children. Because of the complications that apply in certain cases, not every child will be in a position to go overseas for an operation. It is vital that every action is taken. We need ministerial and Government oversight to ensure what the Ombudsman for Children has declared to be a contravention of children's rights is rectified and that children in this case get their operations on time to ensure they get an optimal outcome as a result of the treatment of their condition.

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