Paul Lawless (Mayo, Aontú) | Oireachtas source

I rise today to speak for a mother, Michelle O'Toole, who spent thousands not on luxury, but on love. Her daughter Katie was faced with a harrowing surgery abroad where a full removal of the pancreas, spleen and gall bladder had to take place in London because it was not available in Ireland. Katie was ultimately forced abroad, and Michelle's only thought was to be by her side at this very difficult time. However, no support came from the State in terms of travel or accommodation - no guiding hand. What parent has to bear this alone? It is a really difficult situation for a child to be left alone overseas in a hospital bed. The Government speaks of compassion, but there is really no compassion here with regard to this family who have paid taxes all their lives.

I have reached out to the Minister and the HSE, and now I am reaching out to the Tánaiste in order to show compassion for this family and families like it who are forced to travel abroad through the travel abroad scheme, which is a good scheme. However, I believe that because we are essentially outsourcing this support, it is only right and fair, for major surgeries in particular, support is provided to family members to accompany their loved ones abroad.

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