Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I could have added failures relating to autism services to the list that I presented. Cases have come before the courts because of the HSE's consistent failure to comply with the law. The Disability Act provides for children to be assessed within a tight timeframe so that tailored treatment can be identified and started but, yet again, there is delay after delay. Parents are now moved to go to the courts to seek some level of accountability. Open disclosure is very necessary and welcome but there has to be accountability too. Who is responsible for this mess?

Every day, it becomes more and more apparent that the health services are in a crisis and there is a lack of leadership and direction. Deputy Micheál Martin himself spoke this morning about obfuscation. He has raised questions over the truthfulness of accounts given by the Minister for Health on CervicalCheck and the additional smear. Fianna Fáil is nonetheless happy to allow a Minister and Government to evade accountability for the many failures in our services. I have raised specific services where children are being let down today and will be let down tomorrow. Their parents are being misled and fear that their children will be affected now and in the future. I asked the Taoiseach who is responsible for this and I want an answer. Who will be held accountable?

See this speech in context