Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)

I echo what has been said. The Tánaiste, and everyone in government, is deeply committed to working in partnership with families and advocates for children with spina bifida and scoliosis who require the caring support of our health system. Like many others, I want to express my sincere condolences to the Morrison Sherratt family and to underscore the Government's commitment to do more and deliver better services for all children and families. We need to ensure we have a more caring, more compassionate service and system where children who need support get it in the context of the reform of our health system. The Tánaiste is playing a central role in this. He has my full confidence and that of the Government to transform the approach to our health system.

I have been fortunate to work closely with the Tánaiste in this Government and in the previous one. During the programme for Government negotiations to build a stable coalition government and in all his actions in his roles as Taoiseach and Tánaiste, he has defended and protected Ireland's position as a small open economy against the threats of tariffs on a scale not seen for decades. He has maintained a really strong focus on Ireland's ongoing role in humanitarianism and human rights globally. Throughout each of these challenges the Tánaiste has demonstrated his abilities, conviction, leadership and commitment to building a better and fairer country.

Working with him and the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, as part of budget 2026, we have allocated an additional €1.5 billion for the Department of Health in 2026. Next year, disability funding will be over €3.83 billion, an increase of 19%.

At a time of heightened global and economic uncertainty, the scale of this investment from the Government shows that we are prioritising healthcare and disability services for all our people. It is important that we ensure this investment delivers improved treatment and outcomes for children and families. The Tánaiste is playing a leading role in this regard. He has my full confidence.

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