Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Solidarity)

In my brief time, I do not really have time to comment on the whole national strategy on disability. I just want to focus on one little boy who kind of sums up the attitude of this State to people with disabilities and particularly disabled children, namely, Harvey Morrison Sherratt, whose life was undervalued from the word go. Ironically, his parents were strongly encouraged to have an abortion when his diagnosis was made. They would not be entitled to an abortion in this country even now, ironically. However, it is symptomatic of the way that people are treated who do take on and do choose to go ahead with having a disabled child. Harvey got very late treatment throughout his infancy. His parents had to lodge complaints to the HSE before he was aged one. He had severe pain caused by spinal curving. Finally, in 2022, he went on the spinal surgery list with the aim to have the operation in August. That surgery never happened. In April 2023, they received a letter to cancel it yet again. Harvey was in hospital five times that year and saw four different surgeons, and in August 2024, Harvey was removed from that waiting list with no explanation ever being given to his parents after 30 months waiting on a list. Eventually, they saw a surgeon in his private clinic and Harvey eventually got surgery in November 2024. At this stage, his curve was 130 degrees double what it had been when he went on the list. Unfortunately, as we know, Harvey died within eight months. Harvey's parents, who I have spoken to, want a public inquiry into CHI, spinal surgeries and these complex procedures. The Government has consistently refused the calls in this Dáil for such an inquiry. We have had unlicensed springs. We have had unnecessary hip surgeries. We have had €19 million misspent. We have had the orphan report, the HIQA report and the Ombudsman's report. They want the publication of the Dixon and Nguyen reports. Why has Simon Harris not met these parents? He has talked the talk in the media, but he has never arranged to meet Gillian and Stephen. Why not? It is the least he could do if he is serious about addressing this issue and finding out more. Why is the Minister of State still setting her face against a public inquiry? She knows we will all be back here in a year's time, and she will be conceding one.

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