Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

What is real is that Sophia and other children like her are in pain. They are in pain today and will be tomorrow until the surgery is provided. What we do know is that the Minister for Health, Deputy Simon Harris, gave a commitment in 2017 that no child would wait longer than four months for surgery. Sophia has been waiting in pain for a year and a half. We can collectively lift her pain if we make sure we will have a system that is fit for purpose and which will not allow children like her to go month after month living in pain and agony because of her condition. What assurances can the Tánaiste give to Sophia and the other 188 children who are waiting for spinal surgery? The Tánaiste did meet her father who wants to meet the Minister. Will the Tánaiste give a commitment that the Minister will do the right thing and meet him? He should not have to attend at the gates of Leinster House to try to flag down a Minister. I appreciate that the Tánaiste stopped for a moment to talk to him, but there are things that he wants to say and proposals that he has put forward. For example, he proposes the opening of theatres five days a week, up from three. He wants to ensure there will be intensive care unit beds available in order that his child can recover properly. These are measures that could be put in place, but the Government is failing the children concerned and breaking its promises. As all of this goes on, children are waking and suffering in pain.

See this speech in context