Michael Collins (Cork South West, Independent) | Oireachtas source

It is not a laughing matter. They are going blind on the Taoiseach's watch. That is the second time that he has laughed. People are not happy about that.

There are people from Dublin Hill, Cork, Kanturk, Macroom and all over parts of Kerry frantically heading to Belfast. One of these is a 36 year old woman, Maeve, from the Taoiseach's constituency. She has allowed me to use her name. She was rapidly going blind and attended the Taoiseach's constituency office, desperately hoping that he could get a cataract operation done in Cork for her. Like many more of us, the Taoiseach's constituency office failed to get this 20-minute procedure done in Cork or anywhere else in the Republic for her. The Taoiseach's office advised her to travel on our buses to Belfast. She did so four weeks ago. She had her eye surgery and is now due the second operation in the next week and a half. What the surgery has done for that woman is truly unreal and has transformed her life.

I am quite happy to help the Taoiseach's constituents, as I know he is a busy man. For me to do this, however, and for those who are in pain to find relief or save their sight, we will need a cross-border directive to continue after 31 December, deal or no-deal Brexit. I asked the Taoiseach three weeks ago would the cross-border directive continue for those who are desperately awaiting surgery in the South and he skirted over the answer. In the Dáil I questioned the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Deputy Coveney, about the cross-border directive continuing. He gave encouraging signs and said legislation is being put in place which may help in this matter.

On behalf of the thousands who are in pain or are in massive fear of losing their sight, many of whom are from the Taoiseach's constituency, who need a shining light in the dark and want a "Yes" or "No" answer, is the cross-border directive going to continue?

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