Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The anxiety of these parents could not be overstated. As the Taoiseach has correctly noted, the initial sample between 2021 and 2023 involves children between the ages of one and seven. These are very young children, and the idea of any small child being operated on unnecessarily is extremely traumatising for their parents. Their anxiety has been added to by the Government's absolute lack of clarity and the Taoiseach's refusal even today to answer basic questions of information. How many letters have been issued and how many children are involved? The parents concerned want to know this. The system wrote to these parents. It raised this issue with these parents with regard to the children in these families. Having raised the issue, however, no clarity is given. No reassurance has been given. This is the truth. Can we start the process of clarity today? Will the Taoiseach simply tell me how many letters have been issued and how many children will be recalled? The Taoiseach ought to know that at this stage.

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