Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)

To sit still while children are cut open without cause is not policy; it is barbarism masquerading as procedure. The nation watched in horror as more than 500 children, babies and toddlers were subjected to major hip surgeries without proper medical justification. This is not just clinical error; this is systemic betrayal and a violation of duty. The Department of Health and the HSE knew. They were warned by whistleblowers - we congratulate and thank the whistleblower today for that - but nonetheless, the HSE did nothing. The people the whistleblower went to did nothing. That is not just a failure; it is complicity.

Earlier, the Taoiseach spoke about world-class health services and mentioned the children's hospital. Let me give the Minister a real-world fact. Ireland pays out more in medical negligence claims per capita than almost any other EU country. More than €2.5 billion has been paid out already in this decade. That is more than any other health system the size of ours, and still there have been just a few resignations. There are no consequences and no accountability. When it comes to healthcare, it is quite obvious that Europe is moving forward while Ireland is moving backwards. We are the outlier of the EU in terms of cost, care and basic clinical responsibility. Let me be clear. This Government cannot be trusted to investigate itself. I welcome that there will be an independent investigation, but it must have statutory powers. There must be no redactions, no delays and no whitewashing.

Many people on the Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil benches have spoken about progress. When they say progress, I see failure. Where there are promises of reform, I see ruin. The one thing I have seen from this health service is that regardless of whether someone is a child, elderly or out there working, he or she cannot trust the health service any more. The health service in this country is sick.

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