Mary Butler (Waterford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, for highlighting the ongoing challenges we are addressing in paediatric healthcare services in our country. Like everyone in government, I am deeply concerned by the issues that have come to light regarding Children's Health Ireland and the use of unapproved medical devices in spinal surgeries at Temple Street university hospital. This incident has understandably caused significant distress among the families affected and has raised serious questions about the governance and oversight within CHI. My first concern is for the children and families who have been impacted by these failings. The trust that parents place in our healthcare services to provide safe and effective treatment for their children is paramount, and it is clear that this trust has been breached.

Lives and lived experience are matters I talk about a lot as Minister of State with responsibility for mental health. I heard Deputy Brian Brennan speak about his son and family and the challenges he has with his young boy. It is important that we hear all these stories. The majority of Deputies are either aunts or uncles, mothers or fathers, or brothers or sisters. We cannot underestimate the importance of the lived and living experience, which is why I welcome that the Minister for Health, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, has listened to the advocacy groups and the experiences they have shared. She has listened with concern to issues that I have raised and other TDs have brought to her attention, each one a reminder of the real-life story behind every single case. The Minister attended the paediatric spinal task force meeting earlier this month. Yesterday and today, she had the opportunity to meet advocacy groups requesting that children, young people and families affected by spinal conditions, such as scoliosis and spina bifida, get the help and support they need in a timely manner.

If one's child is attending a CAMHS team, has a disability or is waiting for early intervention in psychology, the family and the parent behind that are heartbroken. This is about very sick children. The families need our help. One of the Deputies mentioned the effect this had on the mental health of a parent or family when they were waiting for supports and the challenges those people faced. We have to address these issues head-on and fully implement the recommendations outlined in the HIQA report to restore confidence in our paediatric healthcare services. Many Members have said it in the Chamber today; a huge amount of really good work goes on in paediatric services. There are hospitals across Dublin and the wider country where nurses and doctors are working tonight. They will do a night shift and go home to their own families in the morning. It is really important that we not be worried about governance issues. One has to be able to respect the services and management that are there, and be able to go home at night-time if one's child is sick knowing the child will be well looked after and that proper governance is in place.

I compliment HIQA on the report it published three weeks ago. It is a stark reminder of what happens when safeguards fail. The most important thing we can do as Oireachtas Members and as a Government is make sure that the safeguards are put in place and will not fail again.

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