Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Taoiseach. I acknowledge the presence of the Minister for Health and I ask him, the Taoiseach and the Government please to take this young boy on board. I ask them to take him into their heads but, most importantly, before Christmas, I ask them to take him into their hearts.

We have gastro teams for adults but, as the Minister knows, we only have one gastro team dedicated to children. It is disappointing and heartbreaking for Jean, Teddy and young Michael to have an appointment and to get ready for the enormity of getting their bags packed and their car ready for the long journey to Dublin, only to have that pulled out from them at the last minute. Many Members present are parents. I ask them to take into their hearts and heads how it would be if that was their child, nephew, or niece, if they knew that the child had a pain in their belly every day and knowing the pain that creates in their heart. I ask them to please take this case on board. Let him get the attention he needs.

I would be the first person to compliment the Taoiseach. I raised a case here not too long ago when two children needed millions of euro to be spent and the Government, Minister for Health, Taoiseach and Tánaiste took it on board and did it. I was grateful for that and ask the Government to please do the same again. I thank the Taoiseach.

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