Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)

Again, I agree with the Deputy. On the Dickson report I will provide a note to Deputies on this. There is a follow-up process with those families. I do not have the details to hand but I would like to provide that information to them.

Deputy Cullinane is absolutely right about developing services now. An inquiry should not prohibit or preclude that. He will be aware that I have strengthened very considerably the board of CHI with appointments most recently, and in particular with Fergus Finlay who is a very strong advocate in this space, and who I know will be a very strong advocate on the board and hold CHI very strongly to account, especially in relation to spinal services. As I said at yesterday's health committee meeting, I am really not satisfied with this year's performance. I cannot account for the reduction in the number of families travelling abroad. It is not clear to me how that is being offered to them, at what stage it is being offered to them or the breadth with which it is being offered. I am pleased that the adolescent complex surgeries have begun in the Mater. This is after a period when they were being paid for and not being done. Since July it has now been agreed that these will be done, and I am trying to see what options I have, domestically and internationally, that go beyond what we currently have to see how we can do more. I will report back to the House on that. I do not have an answer on that yet.

See this speech in context