Réada Cronin (Kildare North, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Here we go again - another term and another scandal. When it comes to Ireland and systems, power and secrecy, it never really stops. It is long after the promise from the previous Minister that children with scoliosis would be treated within four months. We know how that went. I have spoken to some of the parents involved. I welcome them and their advocates to the Dáil. They are extremely concerned about how the current situation has been handled. They are worried about institutional secrecy, bargepoles and cover-ups. They are worried about the way they have been overlooked and excluded while investigations in respect of their children were conducted without their knowledge and over their heads. They have been kept in the dark, only too aware the State has endless sums of money to defend the indefensible and does not think twice about doing so. For them, every aspect of any and all investigations and reviews, internal or external, must be published. That is the only way they will have clarity and transparency regarding the treatment of their children, who have been treated disgracefully by the HSE and numerous Ministers for Health. All the while, their children's small organs are being crushed by delays in scheduling surgery.

Some of the children in this cohort are from my constituency of Kildare North. The day they came to my constituency office in Naas to meet with my colleague from Kildare South, Deputy Patricia Ryan, and the Sinn Féin health spokesman, Deputy Cullinane, was by far one of the nicest days we have had there. It was a magic day. They are full of joy, life, hope and expectancy. What fabulous children they are and what fabulous families they come from. I wish to mention those precious young citizens, namely, Seán, Alyssa, Éanna and Eddie. Conor, an older child, could not make it because of how the State had failed him. In any action that is taken now, their families and all the families affected must come first.

Is the Taoiseach to meet with the families? The Minister is confirming that is correct. That is good because there is nothing more important. I have great faith in the Irish people that, notwithstanding any appointments or whatever the Taoiseach had made for this Friday, nobody will stand in the way of his meeting these families. There is nothing more important than them having the Taoiseach's ear.

See this speech in context