Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I do not disagree with any of that. The families are angry and they have every right to be angry. There is no defending what has happened. We have to fix it and fix it permanently. That is what this dedicated spinal unit is going to do. The team in CHI are meeting other international providers this week. I have told them that as far as I am concerned they have full authority to go and secure this on behalf of the children.

On the second opinion, I will get a more detailed note but I understand the families who were within the scope of the Mr. Nayagam review, whether they got actively involved or not, have been offered a second review and a small number have taken it. I point out the feedback from the CHI surgeons is that while we can secure a second opinion from Great Ormond Street or wherever we want, they ask what happens then. It is still the same surgeons here trying to do the work. We are, therefore, expanding the number of surgeons and the capacity they have. I have also instructed CHI and the HSE to completely ring-fence all theatres, MRI, ICU and ward beds required in that our own surgical teams can be fully utilised to treat as many children as possible.

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