Joanna Byrne (Louth, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The draft report found that 79% of hip surgeries in Cappagh were not necessary, 60% at Temple Street were not necessary, 2% at Crumlin were not necessary and all those operations cost about €1,600 each. Those figures are scandalous. We have heard about cowboy tradesmen but does this point to cowboy surgeons?

These revelations come at the same time as the completion of HIQA's investigation into the use of non-medical grade implants in several children, which found severe governance and institutional failures at CHI. With those levels of ineptitude and possible wrongdoing going on, and for how long we do not know, we cannot have confidence in the CHI board. The Government's amendment to this Private Members' motion does not inspire confidence, either. It has been a year since this was uncovered and thus far, nothing has been resolved. A year on we are waiting for a final report of the audit and it is just not good enough for the people who are affected.

When it comes to the Irish public, and in this case sick children, the Government is moving at a snail's pace. When it comes to creating housing tsars or new super junior Ministers, the Government can move heaven and earth at lightening speed to provide jobs for the boys. I ask the Minister to drop her amendment and back this Private Members' motion. It is the very least those children affected deserve and it is the very least parents and families can expect. These are children who endured life changing trauma unnecessarily. Just stop and think about that sentence for a moment. Our Proclamation of the Irish Republic declares a resolve to cherish the children of the nation. By God, these children were not cherished by this nation, they were not cherished by cowboy surgeons and they are not being cherished by those who will not stand up for them now.

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