Mairéad Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

We can all agree that what has happened and what has unfolded is terrifying. The fact that children went through needless operations is terrifying for them, their families and wider society.

My heart goes out to the families and children involved but also to the families who do not know, who do not have the information and who are unsure. It is good that we are addressing this today. I hope the Minister takes on board the points we raise in our motion. The fact that we do not know the number of operations carried out unnecessarily is frightening. We have all been contacted by constituents who have found out that these procedures may have been unnecessary or who have received letters outlining that their children may have been impacted. That is not good enough. We have to make sure that the information is given to families and that communication continues to be at the centre of dealing with the families because many families are incredibly worried at this point.

Tá sé fíorthábhachtach go rachaimid i ngleic leis seo i gceart, go gcinnteoimid nach dtarlóidh a leithéid arís riamh agus go gcinnteoimid go bhfuil an chumarsáid cheart agus chuí ag dul go dtí na teaghlaigh ar fad, dóibh siúd atá fíorbhuartha agus iad tar éis a fháil amach nach raibh obráidí de dhíth ag na páistí atá acu agus dóibh siúd nach bhfuil cinnte go fóill mar gheall go bhfuil siad tar éis litreacha a fháil nach bhfuil soiléir faoin méid a tharla do na páistí atá acu. Caithfimid a chinntiú go bhfuil an chumarsáid sin ann agus nach dtarlóidh sé seo arís. Is minic i stair na hÉireann go ndúirt muid go bhfuil ceachtanna foghlamtha againn ach, i ndáiríre, léirítear dúinn arís agus arís eile nach bhfuil tada foghlamtha againn. Caithfimid a chinntiú nach dtarlóidh a leithéid arís.

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