Paul Donnelly (Dublin West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the families, including children and young people, in the Visitors Gallery listening to this debate. The Minister talked about ongoing failings. Seven years ago, it was promised that this would be dealt with within months, yet the Minister is standing here tonight talking about ongoing failings. That means he knows about them and that nothing has been done to help the children in pain. Three hundred and twenty-seven children have been forced to suffer in pain for years, watched by helpless parents and their families. The pain these children experience is so severe that it needs to be managed by strong medication. The parents are now worried about its long-term effects.

As has been alluded to, promises made more than seven years ago have been broken time and again. The Minister has acknowledged this by saying there have been ongoing failings to this very day. This leaves the children in pain, which is an absolute shame. To stand up here and say we know this has been going on and that children have been in pain and taking really severe medication to deal with it is unacceptable. The children who have come here to protest outside are in pain. That they have had to do so for years is an absolute disgrace. Children need the Government and the Minister to increase capacity and make full use of international options. Children with spina bifida need an elective paediatric urology centre. The Minister knows the waiting lists are a tragedy, and the Government needs to step up. It is simply unfair on the children, their families and their caregivers. All the Deputies in this House must support this motion to ensure parents and advocacy groups see children get the vital care they need.

We have choices. We are the people who have been tasked by constituents and the people in the Visitors Gallery to deal with these issues and ensure we look after their health, care and housing. It is up to us to ensure we deliver.

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