Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)

I thank the Deputy. He is correct. On Monday, the Tánaiste and I met with the parents of Harvey Morrison Sherratt, along with other advocates who were there to support the family. The Tánaiste and I listened carefully to what his parents said. It must have been a particularly difficult time, as all of this period has been for them, but also recognising it has been two months since the death of their little boy. At the meeting, it was agreed that we would work in partnership on the structure of an inquiry into spina bifida and complex scoliosis services at CHI. As the Deputy will be aware, there are a number of different models of inquiry and investigation. I have committed to scoping out the different models that are possible and the pros and cons of each of those models, while recognising that some of them have limitations, and to presenting that back to the parents and the advocates. It is important we would have a follow-up meeting when they have had the opportunity to reflect on that therefore it is my intention to write to them within two weeks and then to meet them a week after that. I have a little bit of work to do on that yet. The inquiry will be part of the wider reflection on paediatric services in CHI. The Deputy and the House will be aware that there is an important audit going on into waiting list equity or equity of access to the waiting lists in some of these services. It is important to say that. There is also the CHI oversight improvement steering group which is working regularly and oversees the implementation of the range of different reports of which the House is already aware, including the HIQA review. It will also oversee upcoming reports, including the Nayagam review, and a range of other measures.

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