Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú) | Oireachtas source

I raise the horrific case of Harvey Sherratt. Harvey is an eight-year-old boy. For some reason, he has been removed from the waiting list for scoliosis surgery without his parents being informed of this. Many people will have seen images of Harvey circulating in the media. It is shockingly clear that this child is suffering significantly. The curvature of his spine seems to be in excess of 90 degrees. The curve of his spine has gone beyond what a right angle is. The child is struggling to breath and is screaming in pain but Children's Health Ireland has removed him from the waiting list for some reason. He has been on the waiting list since February 2022. The Taoiseach made promises in 2017 that no child would wait longer than four months for surgery. How can a society that puts away a budget surplus of €8 billion not provide the necessary resources to ensure that children who need these critical and, in certain cases, life-saving operations receive them? Will the Taoiseach explain exactly how Harvey's name was taken off the waiting list?

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