Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)

I want to express my sincere sympathies to Harvey Morrison Sherratt's parents, Gillian and Stephen, and all families impacted by CHI's scoliosis and spinal surgery waiting list. This is a deeply serious issue, one on which we are all united across the Dáil in wanting to resolve. Simon, the Government and the Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, are working with parents and advocates to agree a structured partnership to deal with the issues and challenges around scoliosis and spina bifida. This is real action not political point-scoring.

I fully support this motion of confidence in my party leader, Simon Harris, a leader who has delivered for Ireland. I see how hard the Tánaiste works. I see the results - real delivery and real progress. Under Simon Harris's leadership, the Government has protected jobs, supported businesses and strengthened Ireland's economy.

What has Aontú delivered for Ireland and for Mayo? Not one house, not one more road, not one job, not one hospital bed - nothing. Deputy Paul Lawless has delivered zero.

Aontú's latest attempt to grab the headlines is another political stunt. It has no substance, no solutions and no delivery. Deputy Tóibín and his party take our economic success for granted. The fact that we have resources today is because of prudent management by the Government, the Tánaiste's leadership and the hard work of the Irish people. In an era of global uncertainty, the Government and the Tánaiste are building resilience and opening doors for Irish businesses.

In recent months, the Minister, Deputy Peter Burke, and the Tánaiste launched the action plan on market diversification, alongside the action plan on competitiveness and productivity, a whole-of-government strategy to expand our global trade opportunities and build resilience into Irish SMEs. What does Aontú offer? Nothing.

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